Method and apparatus for multiplexing channel state information

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatuses for multiplexing channel state information (CSI). A user equipment (UE) includes a transceiver configured to receive configuration information for CSI reporting. The UE further includes a processor configured to decode the configuration information and calculate a CSI according to the configuration information. The transceiver is further configured to transmit the calculated CSI on an uplink (UL) channel. The CSI includes N segments and is transmitted in one slot, where N&gt;1. A first of the N segments includes a rank indicator (RI) and at least one other CSI parameter. A base station (BS) includes a processor configured to generate configuration information for CSI reporting. The BS further includes a transceiver configured to transmit, to a UE, the configuration information via a downlink (DL) channel; and receive, from the UE, a CSI report calculated in accordance with the configuration information on an uplink UL channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to:

-   -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/435,536 filed        Dec. 16, 2016;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/446,145 filed        Jan. 13, 2017;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/462,431 filed        Feb. 23, 2017;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/470,633 filed        Mar. 13, 2017;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/501,492 filed        May 4, 2017;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/521,848 filed        Jun. 19, 2017;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/558,078 filed        Sep. 13, 2017; and    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/559,287 filed        Sep. 15, 2017.        The above-identified provisional patent applications are hereby        incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to methods for enabling channelstate information (CSI) multiplexing. Such methods can be used when auser equipment is equipped with a plurality of transmit antennas andtransmit-receive units.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication has been one of the most successful innovationsin modern history. The demand of wireless data traffic is rapidlyincreasing due to the growing popularity among consumers and businessesof smart phones and other mobile data devices, such as tablets, “notepad” computers, net books, eBook readers, and machine type of devices.To meet the high growth in mobile data traffic and support newapplications and deployments, improvements in radio interface efficiencyand coverage is of paramount importance.

A mobile device or user equipment can measure the quality of thedownlink channel and report this quality to a base station so that adetermination can be made regarding whether or not various parametersshould be adjusted during communication with the mobile device. Existingchannel quality reporting processes in wireless communications systemsdo not sufficiently accommodate reporting of channel state informationassociated with large, two dimensional array transmit antennas or, ingeneral, antenna array geometry which accommodates a large number ofantenna elements.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods andapparatuses for CSI multiplexing.

In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is provided. The UE includes atransceiver configured to receive configuration information for CSIreporting. The UE further includes a processor operably connected to thetransceiver. The processor is configured to decode the configurationinformation and calculate a CSI according to the configurationinformation. The transceiver is further configured to transmit thecalculated CSI on an uplink (UL) channel. The CSI includes N segmentsand is transmitted in one slot, where N>1. A first of the N segmentsincludes a rank indicator (RI) and at least one other CSI parameter.

In another embodiment, a base station (BS) is provided. The BS includesa processor configured to generate configuration information for CSIreporting. The BS further includes a transceiver operably connected tothe processor. The transceiver is configured to transmit, to a UE, theconfiguration information via a downlink (DL) channel; and receive, fromthe UE, a CSI report calculated in accordance with the configurationinformation on an uplink UL channel. The CSI includes N segments and istransmitted in one slot, where N>1. A first of the N segments includes arank indicator (RI) and at least one other CSI parameter.

In another embodiment, a method for operating a UE is provided. Themethod includes receiving and decoding configuration information for CSIreporting, calculating a CSI according to the configuration information,and transmitting the calculated CSI on an UL. The CSI includes Nsegments and is transmitted in one slot where N>1. A first of the Nsegments includes a RI and at least one other CSI parameter.

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5Gcommunication system to be provided for supporting higher data ratesBeyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long TermEvolution (LTE).

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it can beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivativesrefer to any direct or indirect communication between two or moreelements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with oneanother. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller can beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllercan be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used,and only one item in the list can be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art shouldunderstand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply toprior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example wireless transmit and receive pathsaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example UE according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3B illustrates an example BS according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example beamforming architecture wherein oneCSI-RS port is mapped onto a large number of analog-controlled antennaelements;

FIG. 5 illustrates several examples of CSI reporting band configurationaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example for UCI codeword formation according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example for joint encoding of CSI parametersaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example for two-segment UCI encoding according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A illustrates an example for two-segment CSI encoding according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B illustrates an example for two-segment UCI encoding according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example for three-segment UCI encoding accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 11A-11G illustrate examples for two-segment UCI encoding accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates several examples of multiplexing scheme whereinCSI-UCI is transmitted together with UL-SCH data according toembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example for UCI multiplexing in case oftwo-segment UCI encoding according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart for an example method wherein a UEreceives CSI configuration information and reports multi-segment CSIaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for an example method wherein a BStransmits CSI configuration information and receives multi-segment CSIreporting for a UE (labeled as UE-k) according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 15, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure can beimplemented in any suitably arranged wireless communication system.

LIST OF ACRONYMS

-   -   2D: two-dimensional    -   MIMO: multiple-input multiple-output    -   SU-MIMO: single-user MIMO    -   MU-MIMO: multi-user MIMO    -   3GPP: 3rd generation partnership project    -   LTE: long-term evolution    -   UE: user equipment    -   eNB: evolved Node B or “eNB”    -   BS: base station    -   DL: downlink    -   UL: uplink    -   CRS: cell-specific reference signal(s)    -   DMRS: demodulation reference signal(s)    -   SRS: sounding reference signal(s)    -   UE-RS: UE-specific reference signal(s)    -   CSI-RS: channel state information reference signals    -   SCID: scrambling identity    -   MCS: modulation and coding scheme    -   RE: resource element    -   CQI: channel quality information    -   PMI: precoding matrix indicator    -   RI: rank indicator    -   MU-CQI: multi-user CQI    -   CSI: channel state information    -   CSI-IM: CSI interference measurement    -   CoMP: coordinated multi-point    -   DCI: downlink control information    -   UCI: uplink control information    -   PDSCH: physical downlink shared channel    -   PDCCH: physical downlink control channel    -   PUSCH: physical uplink shared channel    -   PUCCH: physical uplink control channel    -   PRB: physical resource block    -   RRC: radio resource control    -   AoA: angle of arrival    -   AoD: angle of departure

The following documents and standards descriptions are herebyincorporated by reference into the present disclosure as if fully setforth herein: 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 36.211 version 12.4.0,“E-UTRA, Physical channels and modulation” (“REF 1”); 3GPP TS 36.212version 12.3.0, “E-UTRA, Multiplexing and Channel coding” (“REF 2”);3GPP TS 36.213 version 12.4.0, “E-UTRA, Physical Layer Procedures” (“REF3”); 3GPP TS 36.321 version 12.4.0, “E-UTRA, Medium Access Control (MAC)Protocol Specification” (“REF 4”); and 3GPP TS 36.331 version 12.4.0,“E-UTRA, Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol Specification” (“REF 5”).

To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased sincedeployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made todevelop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5Gor pre-5G communication system is also called a ‘Beyond 4G Network’ or a‘Post LTE System’.

The 5G communication system is considered to be implemented in higherfrequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, so as to accomplish higherdata rates. To decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increasethe transmission distance, the beamforming, massive multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO), Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna,an analog beam forming, large scale antenna techniques are discussed in5G communication systems.

In addition, in 5G communication systems, development for system networkimprovement is under way based on advanced small cells, cloud RadioAccess Networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D)communication, wireless backhaul, moving network, cooperativecommunication, Coordinated Multi-Points (CoMP), reception-endinterference cancellation and the like.

In the 5G system, Hybrid FSK and QAM Modulation (FQAM) and slidingwindow superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation(ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multipleaccess (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as an advancedaccess technology have been developed.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network 100 according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the wirelessnetwork 100 shown in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsof the wireless network 100 could be used without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

The wireless network 100 includes a BS 101, a BS 102, and a BS 103. TheBS 101 communicates with the BS 102 and the BS 103. The BS 101 alsocommunicates with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) network 130, suchas the Internet, a proprietary IP network, or other data network.Instead of “BS”, an option term such as “eNB” (enhanced Node B) or “gNB”(general Node B) can also be used. Depending on the network type, otherwell-known terms can be used instead of “gNB” or “BS,” such as “basestation” or “access point.” For the sake of convenience, the terms “gNB”and “BS” are used in this patent document to refer to networkinfrastructure components that provide wireless access to remoteterminals. Also, depending on the network type, other well-known termscan be used instead of “user equipment” or “UE,” such as “mobilestation,” “subscriber station,” “remote terminal,” “wireless terminal,”or “user device.” For the sake of convenience, the terms “userequipment” and “UE” are used in this patent document to refer to remotewireless equipment that wirelessly accesses an gNB, whether the UE is amobile device (such as a mobile telephone or smartphone) or is normallyconsidered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer or vendingmachine).

The gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of UEs within a coverage area 120 of the gNB 102. Thefirst plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which can be located in asmall business (SB); a UE 112, which can be located in an enterprise(E); a UE 113, which can be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); a UE 114,which can be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, which can belocated in a second residence (R); and a UE 116, which can be a mobiledevice (M) like a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wireless PDA, or thelike. The gNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 of the gNB 103.The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE 116. In someembodiments, one or more of the gNBs 101-103 can communicate with eachother and with the UEs 111-116 using 5G, LTE, LTE-A, WiMAX, or otheradvanced wireless communication techniques.

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood thatthe coverage areas associated with gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120and 125, can have other shapes, including irregular shapes, dependingupon the configuration of the gNBs and variations in the radioenvironment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, one or more of gNB 101, gNB 102, andgNB 103 transmit measurement reference signals to UEs 111-116 andconfigure UEs 111-116 for multiplexed CSI reporting as described inembodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, one ormore of UEs 111-116 generate and report multiplexed CSI.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network 100,various changes can be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network100 could include any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in anysuitable arrangement. Also, the gNB 101 could communicate directly withany number of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband accessto the network 130. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 could communicatedirectly with the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wirelessbroadband access to the network 130. Further, the gNB 101, 102, and/or103 could provide access to other or additional external networks, suchas external telephone networks or other types of data networks.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example wireless transmit and receive pathsaccording to the present disclosure. In the following description, atransmit path 200 can be described as being implemented in a gNB (suchas gNB 102), while a receive path 250 can be described as beingimplemented in a UE (such as UE 116). However, it will be understoodthat the receive path 250 could be implemented in a gNB and that thetransmit path 200 could be implemented in a UE. In some embodiments, thereceive path 250 is configured to generate and report multiplexed CSI asdescribed in embodiments of the present disclosure.

The transmit path 200 includes a channel coding and modulation block205, a serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 210, a size N Inverse FastFourier Transform (IFFT) block 215, a parallel-to-serial (P-to-S) block220, an ‘add cyclic prefix’ block 225, and an up-converter (UC) 230. Thereceive path 250 includes a down-converter (DC) 255, a ‘remove cyclicprefix’ block 260, a serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 265, a size NFast Fourier Transform (FFT) block 270, a parallel-to-serial (P-to-S)block 275, and a channel decoding and demodulation block 280.

In the transmit path 200, the channel coding and modulation block 205receives a set of information bits, applies coding (such asconvolutional, Turbo, or low-density parity check (LDPC) coding), andmodulates the input bits (such as with Quadrature Phase Shift Keying(QPSK) or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)) to generate a sequenceof frequency-domain modulation symbols. The S-to-P block 210 converts(such as de-multiplexes) the serial modulated symbols to parallel datain order to generate N parallel symbol streams, where N is the IFFT/FFTsize used in the gNB 102 and the UE 116. The size N IFFT block 215performs an IFFT operation on the N parallel symbol streams to generatetime-domain output signals. The P-to-S block 220 converts (such asmultiplexes) the parallel time-domain output symbols from the size NIFFT block 215 in order to generate a serial time-domain signal. The‘add cyclic prefix’ block 225 inserts a cyclic prefix to the time-domainsignal. The UC 230 modulates (such as up-converts) the output of the‘add cyclic prefix’ block 225 to an RF frequency for transmission via awireless channel. The signal can also be filtered at baseband beforeconversion to the RF frequency.

A transmitted RF signal from the gNB 102 arrives at the UE 116 afterpassing through the wireless channel, and reverse operations to those atthe gNB 102 are performed at the UE 116. The DC 255 down-converts thereceived signal to a baseband frequency, and the ‘remove cyclic prefix’block 260 removes the cyclic prefix to generate a serial time-domainbaseband signal. The serial-to-parallel block 265 converts thetime-domain baseband signal to parallel time domain signals. The size NFFT block 270 performs an FFT algorithm to generate N parallelfrequency-domain signals. The parallel-to-serial block 275 converts theparallel frequency-domain signals to a sequence of modulated datasymbols. The channel decoding and demodulation block 280 demodulates anddecodes the modulated symbols to recover the original input data stream.

As described in more detail below, the transmit path 200 or the receivepath 250 can perform signaling for multiplexed CSI reporting. Each ofthe gNBs 101-103 can implement a transmit path 200 that is analogous totransmitting in the downlink to UEs 111-116 and can implement a receivepath 250 that is analogous to receiving in the uplink from UEs 111-116.Similarly, each of UEs 111-116 can implement a transmit path 200 fortransmitting in the uplink to gNBs 101-103 and can implement a receivepath 250 for receiving in the downlink from gNBs 101-103.

Each of the components in FIGS. 2A and 2B can be implemented using onlyhardware or using a combination of hardware and software/firmware. As aparticular example, at least some of the components in FIGS. 2A and 2Bcan be implemented in software, while other components can beimplemented by configurable hardware or a mixture of software andconfigurable hardware. For instance, the FFT block 270 and the IFFTblock 215 can be implemented as configurable software algorithms, wherethe value of size N can be modified according to the implementation.

Furthermore, although described as using FFT and IFFT, this is by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. Other types of transforms, such as Discrete FourierTransform (DFT) and Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) functions,could be used. It will be appreciated that the value of the variable Ncan be any integer number (such as 1, 2, 3, 4, or the like) for DFT andIDFT functions, while the value of the variable N can be any integernumber that is a power of two (such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or the like) forFFT and IFFT functions.

Although FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of wireless transmit andreceive paths, various changes can be made to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Forexample, various components in FIGS. 2A and 2B could be combined,further subdivided, or omitted and additional components could be addedaccording to particular needs. Also, FIGS. 2A and 2B are meant toillustrate examples of the types of transmit and receive paths thatcould be used in a wireless network. Other suitable architectures couldbe used to support wireless communications in a wireless network.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example UE 116 according to the presentdisclosure. The embodiment of the UE 116 illustrated in FIG. 3A is forillustration only, and the UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 could have the same orsimilar configuration. However, UEs come in a wide variety ofconfigurations, and FIG. 3A does not limit the scope of the presentdisclosure to any particular implementation of a UE.

The UE 116 includes an antenna 305, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver310, transmit (TX) processing circuitry 315, a microphone 320, andreceive (RX) processing circuitry 325. The UE 116 also includes aspeaker 330, a processor 340, an input/output (I/O) interface 345, aninput 350, a display 355, and a memory 360. The memory 360 includes anoperating system (OS) program 361 and one or more applications 362.

The RF transceiver 310 receives, from the antenna 305, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by a gNB of the wireless network 100 of FIG. 1. TheRF transceiver 310 down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate anintermediate frequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or basebandsignal is sent to the RX processing circuitry 325, which generates aprocessed baseband signal by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing thebaseband or IF signal. The RX processing circuitry 325 transmits theprocessed baseband signal to the speaker 330 (such as for voice data) orto the processor 340 for further processing (such as for web browsingdata).

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 320 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the processor 340.The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes, multiplexes, and/or digitizesthe outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IFsignal. The RF transceiver 310 receives the outgoing processed basebandor IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 315 and up-converts thebaseband or IF signal to an RF signal that is transmitted via theantenna 305.

The processor 340 can include one or more processors or other processingdevices and execute the OS program 361 stored in the memory 360 in orderto control the overall operation of the UE 116. For example, processor340 could control the reception of forward channel signals and thetransmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceiver 310, theRX processing circuitry 325, and the TX processing circuitry 315 inaccordance with well-known principles. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The processor 340 is also capable of executing other processes andprograms resident in the memory 360, such as operations for CQImeasurement and reporting for systems described in embodiments of thepresent disclosure as described in embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The processor 340 can move data into or out of the memory360 as required by an executing process. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 is configured to execute the applications 362 based on theOS program 361 or in response to signals received from gNBs or anoperator. The processor 340 is also coupled to the I/O interface 345,which provides the UE 116 with the ability to connect to other devicessuch as laptop computers and handheld computers. The I/O interface 345is the communication path between these accessories and the processor340.

The processor 340 is also coupled to the input 350 (e.g., keypad,touchscreen, button etc.) and the display 355. The operator of the UE116 can use the input 350 to enter data into the UE 116. The display 355can be a liquid crystal display or other display capable of renderingtext and/or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites.

The memory 360 is coupled to the processor 340. Part of the memory 360could include a random access memory (RAM), and another part of thememory 360 could include a Flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).

As described in more detail below, the UE 116 can perform signaling andcalculation for multiplexed CSI reporting. Although FIG. 3A illustratesone example of UE 116, various changes can be made to FIG. 3A. Forexample, various components in FIG. 3A could be combined, furthersubdivided, or omitted and additional components could be addedaccording to particular needs. As a particular example, the processor340 could be divided into multiple processors, such as one or morecentral processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphics processingunits (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 3A illustrates the UE 116 configured as amobile telephone or smartphone, UEs could be configured to operate asother types of mobile or stationary devices.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example gNB 102 according to the presentdisclosure. The embodiment of the gNB 102 shown in FIG. 3B is forillustration only, and other gNBs of FIG. 1 could have the same orsimilar configuration. However, gNBs come in a wide variety ofconfigurations, and FIG. 3B does not limit the scope of the presentdisclosure to any particular implementation of a gNB. The gNB 101 andthe gNB 103 can include the same or similar structure as the gNB 102.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the gNB 102 includes multiple antennas 370 a-370 n,multiple RF transceivers 372 a-372 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry374, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 376. In certain embodiments,one or more of the multiple antennas 370 a-370 n include 2D antennaarrays. The gNB 102 also includes a controller/processor 378, a memory380, and a backhaul or network interface 382.

The RF transceivers 372 a-372 n receive, from the antennas 370 a-370 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs or other gNBs.The RF transceivers 372 a-372 n down-convert the incoming RF signals togenerate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signals are sent tothe RX processing circuitry 376, which generates processed basebandsignals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignals. The RX processing circuitry 376 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 378 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 374 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 378. The TX processing circuitry 374 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 372 a-372 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 374 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 370 a-370 n.

The controller/processor 378 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the gNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 378 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 372 a-372 n, the RX processing circuitry 376, andthe TX processing circuitry 374 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 378 could support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. In some embodiments, the controller/processor 378 includes atleast one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The controller/processor 378 is also capable of executing programs andother processes resident in the memory 380, such as an OS. Thecontroller/processor 378 is also capable of supporting channel qualitymeasurement and reporting for systems having 2D antenna arrays asdescribed in embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments,the controller/processor 378 supports communications between entities,such as web RTC. The controller/processor 378 can move data into or outof the memory 380 as required by an executing process.

The controller/processor 378 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 382. The backhaul or network interface 382 allows the gNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The backhaul or network interface 382 could supportcommunications over any suitable wired or wireless connection(s). Forexample, when the gNB 102 is implemented as part of a cellularcommunication system (such as one supporting 5G or new radio accesstechnology or NR, LTE, or LTE-A), the backhaul or network interface 382could allow the gNB 102 to communicate with other gNBs over a wired orwireless backhaul connection. When the gNB 102 is implemented as anaccess point, the backhaul or network interface 382 could allow the gNB102 to communicate over a wired or wireless local area network or over awired or wireless connection to a larger network (such as the Internet).The backhaul or network interface 382 includes any suitable structuresupporting communications over a wired or wireless connection, such asan Ethernet or RF transceiver.

The memory 380 is coupled to the controller/processor 378. Part of thememory 380 could include a RAM, and another part of the memory 380 couldinclude a Flash memory or other ROM. In certain embodiments, a pluralityof instructions, such as a BIS algorithm is stored in memory. Theplurality of instructions are configured to cause thecontroller/processor 378 to perform the BIS process and to decode areceived signal after subtracting out at least one interfering signaldetermined by the BIS algorithm.

As described in more detail below, the transmit and receive paths of thegNB 102 (implemented using the RF transceivers 372 a-372 n, TXprocessing circuitry 374, and/or RX processing circuitry 376) receiveand decode multiplexed CSI.

Although FIG. 3B illustrates one example of a gNB 102, various changescan be made to FIG. 3B. For example, the gNB 102 could include anynumber of each component shown in FIG. 3A. As a particular example, anaccess point could include a number of backhaul or network interfaces382, and the controller/processor 378 could support routing functions toroute data between different network addresses. As another particularexample, while shown as including a single instance of TX processingcircuitry 374 and a single instance of RX processing circuitry 376, thegNB 102 could include multiple instances of each (such as one per RFtransceiver).

Rel.13 LTE supports up to 16 CSI-RS antenna ports which enable a gNB tobe equipped with a large number of antenna elements (such as 64 or 128).In this case, a plurality of antenna elements is mapped onto one CSI-RSport. Furthermore, up to 32 CSI-RS ports will be supported in Rel.14LTE. For next generation cellular systems such as 5G, it is expectedthat the maximum number of CSI-RS ports remain more or less the same.

For mmWave bands, although the number of antenna elements can be largerfor a given form factor, the number of CSI-RS ports—which can correspondto the number of digitally precoded ports—tends to be limited due tohardware constraints (such as the feasibility to install a large numberof ADCs/DACs at mmWave frequencies) as illustrated in embodiment 400 ofFIG. 4. In this case, one CSI-RS port is mapped onto a large number ofantenna elements which can be controlled by a bank of analog phaseshifters 401. One CSI-RS port can then correspond to one sub-array whichproduces a narrow analog beam through analog beamforming 405. Thisanalog beam can be configured to sweep across a wider range of angles420 by varying the phase shifter bank across symbols or subframes orslots (wherein a subframe or a slot comprises a collection of symbols).The number of sub-arrays (equal to the number of RF chains) is the sameas the number of CSI-RS ports N_(CSI-PORT). A digital beamforming unit410 performs a linear combination across N_(CSI-PORT) analog beams tofurther increase precoding gain. While analog beams are wideband (hencenot frequency-selective), digital precoding can be varied acrossfrequency sub-bands or resource blocks.

To enable digital precoding, efficient design of CSI-RS is an importantfactor. For this reason, three types of CSI reporting mechanismcorresponding to three types of CSI-RS measurement behavior aresupported in Rel.13 LTE: 1) ‘CLASS A’ CSI reporting which corresponds tonon-precoded CSI-RS; 2) ‘CLASS B’ reporting with K=1 CSI-RS resourcewhich corresponds to UE-specific beamformed CSI-RS; and 3) ‘CLASS B’reporting with K>1 CSI-RS resources which corresponds to cell-specificbeamformed CSI-RS. For non-precoded (NP) CSI-RS, a cell-specificone-to-one mapping between CSI-RS port and TXRU is utilized. Here,different CSI-RS ports have the same wide beam width and direction andhence generally cell wide coverage. For beamformed CSI-RS, beamformingoperation, either cell-specific or UE-specific, is applied on anon-zero-power (NZP) CSI-RS resource (which includes multiple ports).Here, (at least at a given time/frequency) CSI-RS ports have narrow beamwidths and hence not cell wide coverage, and (at least from the gNBperspective) at least some CSI-RS port-resource combinations havedifferent beam directions.

In LTE, depending on the number of transmission layers, a maximum of twocodewords are used for DL and UL data transmissions (on DL data channelsuch as PDSCH or PDCH, and UL data channel such as PUSCH or PUCH,respectively) for spatial multiplexing. For L=1 layer, one codeword ismapped to one layer. For L>1 layers, each of the two codewords is mappedto at least one layer where L layers (rank-L) are divided almost evenlyacross the two codewords. In addition, one codeword can also be mappedto >1 layers especially when only one of the two codewords is to beretransmitted.

Although beneficial for facilitating modulation-and-coding-scheme (MCS)adaptation per codeword (CW) and MMSE-SIC (MMSE with successiveinterference cancellation) receiver, it costs some significant overheadover a single CW mapping. DL overhead comes from the additional DCIpayload due to 2 fixed MCS fields and 2 fixed NDI-RV (DL HARQ related)fields. UL overhead comes from the need for two CQIs (full 4-bit+delta3-bit for wideband CQI, and 2× overhead for subband CQI) for rank >1 andtwo DL HARQ-ACKs for rank >1. Added to that is the complexity of havingto accommodate more than one layer mapping schemes in case ofretransmission. Furthermore, when distributed MIMO such as non-coherentjoint transmission (NC-JT) is incorporated into design requirements for5G NR, the number of codewords (CWs) used for DL and UL transmissionsper UE can increase with the number of TRPs. Therefore, using only oneCW per PDSCH/PUSCH assignment per UE is beneficial for NR, at least forup to rank-2 transmission, or up to rank-4 transmission. Else, two-CWper PDSCH/PUSCH assignment per UE can be used for higher ranks.Optionally, one CW per PDSCH/PUSCH assignment per UE can be used for allranks.

In addition, periodic CSI (P-CSI) reporting in LTE is reported acrossmultiple slots/subframes. This results in complex priority rules (due todropping) and inter-subframe/slot dependencies which is unsuitable forTDD and LAA (since the availability of UL subframes/slots isconditional). This mechanism is susceptible to error propagations andstale CSI. The main reasons are: 1) PUCCH format 2 is too small to carryone-shot CSI reporting, 2) RI-dependent CQI payload (due to the use ofmaximum of 2 CWs), 3) RI-dependent PMI payload.

Yet another drawback of LTE design lies in separately encoding RI (andCRI) from CQI and PMI. This is necessary since the payload for CQI andPMI is rank-dependent. Since the payload for RI is small and RI needs tobe protected more compared to CQI and PMI (to ensure correct decoding ofCQI and PMI), RI is also mapped differently from CQI and PMI. But evenwith such a strong protection, there is no mechanism for the gNB tocheck whether RI (and CRI) decoding is successful or not (due to theabsence of CRC).

Therefore, there is a need for a different design for CSI and itsassociated uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing schemes when asingle codeword (CW) is mapped to all the L≥1 transmission layers. Thepresent disclosure includes several components. Here, UCI includesreporting parameters associated with CSI acquisition, such as CQI(channel quality indicator), PMI (precoding matrix index), RI (rankindicator), and CRI (CSI-RS resource index/indicator). Other CSIparameters can also be included. Unless otherwise stated, this UCI doesnot include HARQ-ACK. In the present disclosure, this UCI can also bereferred to as CSI-UCI for illustrative purposes.

The present disclosure includes the following components for enablingUCI generation and multiplexing as well as CSI reporting. A firstcomponent of the present disclosure pertains to CSI reporting unit infrequency domain. A second component pertains to CRI. A third componentpertains to periodic and/or semi-persistent CSI reporting (P-CSI and/orSP-CSI, respectively). A fourth component pertains to aperiodic CSIreporting (A-CSI).

All the following components and embodiments are applicable for ULtransmission with CP-OFDM (cyclic prefix OFDM) waveform as well asDFT-SOFDM (DFT-spread OFDM) and SC-FDMA (single-carrier FDMA) waveforms.Furthermore, all the following components and embodiments are applicablefor UL transmission when the scheduling unit in time is either onesubframe (which can include one or multiple slots) or one slot.

For the first component (that is, CSI reporting unit), the frequencyresolution (reporting granularity) and span (reporting bandwidth) of CSIreporting can be defined in terms of frequency “subbands” and “CSIreporting band” (CRB), respectively. The term “CSI reporting band” isused for illustrative purposes. Different terms which represent a sameset of functions can be used as well.

A subband for CSI reporting is defined as a set of contiguous PRBs whichrepresents the smallest frequency unit for CSI reporting. The number ofPRBs in a subband can be fixed for a given value of DL system bandwidth,configured either semi-statically via higher-layer/RRC signaling, ordynamically via L1 DL control signaling or MAC control element (MAC CE).The number of PRBs in a subband can be included in CSI reportingsetting.

“CSI reporting band” is defined as a set/collection of subbands, eithercontiguous or non-contiguous, wherein CSI reporting is performed. Forexample, CSI reporting band can include all the subbands within the DLsystem bandwidth. This can also be termed “full-band”. Optionally, CSIreporting band can include only a collection of subbands within the DLsystem bandwidth. This can also be termed “partial band”.

The term “CSI reporting band” is used only as an example forrepresenting a function. Other terms such as “CSI reporting subband set”or “CSI reporting bandwidth” can also be used.

In terms of UE configuration, a UE can be configured with at least oneCSI reporting band. This configuration can be semi-static (viahigher-layer signaling or RRC) or dynamic (via MAC CE or L1 DL controlsignaling). When configured with multiple (N) CSI reporting bands (e.g.via RRC signaling), a UE can report CSI associated with n≤N CSIreporting bands. For instance, >6 GHz, large system bandwidth mayrequire multiple CSI reporting bands. The value of n can either beconfigured semi-statically (via higher-layer signaling or RRC) ordynamically (via MAC CE or L1 DL control signaling). Optionally, the UEcan report a recommended value of n via an UL channel.

Therefore, CSI parameter frequency granularity can be defined per CSIreporting band as follows. A CSI parameter is configured with “single”reporting for the CSI reporting band with M_(n) subbands when one CSIparameter for all the M_(n) subbands within the CSI reporting band. ACSI parameter is configured with “subband” for the CSI reporting bandwith M_(n) subbands when one CSI parameter is reported for each of theM_(n) subbands within the CSI reporting band.

FIG. 5 illustrates several examples of CSI reporting band configuration.In these examples, one subband including 4 PRBs. In CSI reporting bandconfiguration 500, a UE is configured with one CSI reporting band 0(501) which spans the entire DL system bandwidth (including N_(SB)subbands). In CSI reporting band configuration 550, a UE is configuredwith two CSI reporting bands. The first CSI reporting band 0 (551)including 3 subbands while the second CSI reporting band 1 (552)includes 2. For CSI reporting band configuration 550, a UE can befurther configured or requested to report CSI for either reporting band(551 or 552) or both. The two reporting bands can be associated with onecommon/joint CSI reporting setting or two separate CSI reportingsettings. Consequently, the two CSI reporting bands can be associatedwith different configurations (such as frequency granularity,periodic/semi-persistent/aperiodic) or different RS settings for CSIacquisition.

For the second component (that is, CRI or CSI-RS resource indexreporting), a UE can be configured with K≥1 NZP (non-zero-power) CSI-RSresources within one CSI-RS or RS setting. When K>1, the UE can beconfigured with CRI reporting. CRI can be configured as “single”reporting, that is, one CRI for a CSI reporting band. Here, CRI is anindicator which recommends a selection of K_(A) (≤K) out of K CSI-RSresources. CRI can be used for the purpose of CSI acquisition as well asbeam management. CRI reporting can also be accompanied with at least oneCSI-RSRP (CSI-RS received power, or, optionally termed “beam strengthindicator” or “beam-RSRP”) wherein each CSI-RSRP corresponds to at leastone CSI-RS resource.

When a UE is configured with CRI reporting, some embodiments (Alt 1-1,1-2, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, and 3-2) on configuring CSI-RS resource subset forCRI reporting can be described in TABLE 1. Each of these embodiments canbe utilized independently. Optionally, at least two of these embodimentscan be used in combination with each other (such as either Alt 1-1 or1-2 with either Alt 2-1 or 2-2). The option embodiments start with a UEconfigured with K_(TOT) NZP CSI-RS resources via higher-layer (RRC)signaling in one RS setting.

TABLE 1 CRI reporting configuration Semi-static (RRC) configuration MACCE configuration CRI reporting K_(TOT) resources K ≤ K_(TOT) resourcesare activated CRI indicates (recommended) selection of K_(A) ≤ areconfigured (selected). Two options: K resources. Two options: via RRC IE Alt1-1: K is fixed in  Alt 2-1: K_(A) is configured in higher- (RSsetting)  higher-layer RS setting,  layer RS setting or fixed in    ${hence}\mspace{14mu}\left\lceil {\log_{2}\begin{pmatrix}{K_{TOT}}_{} \\K\end{pmatrix}} \right\rceil\text{-}{bit}$    specification, hence┌log₂(K_(A))┐-bit  CRI is used.  Alt 2-2: K_(A) can vary from 1 to K, hence K-bit bitmap CRI is used.  Alt 2-3: K_(A) is signaled dynamically indicator via MAC CE  via L1 DL control channel and  or, optionally, L1DL  included in an UL-related DCI (for  control signaling (via  example,as a ┌log₂K┐-bit DCI field),  DCI).  hence ┌log₂(K_(A))┐-bit CRI isused.  Alt 1-2: K can vary from  This UL-related DCI can be a DCI  1 toK_(TOT), hence K_(TOT)-  used for CSI request (which include  bit bitmapvia MAC CE  CRI report request).  or, optionally, L1 DL CRI indicates(recommended) selection of K_(A) ≤  control signaling (DCI) K_(TOT)resources. Two options:  can be used.  Alt 3-1: K_(A) is configured inhigher-  layer RS setting or fixed in K_(TOT) resources (not used) K =K_(TOT)  specification, hence ┌log₂(K_(A))┐-bit are configured  CRI isused. via RRC IE  Alt 3-2: K_(A) can vary from 1 to K_(TOT), (RSsetting)  hence K_(TOT)-bit bitmap CRI is used.  Alt 3-3: K_(A) issignaled dynamically  via L1 DL control channel and  included in anUL-related DCI (for  example, as a ┌log₂K_(TOT)┐-bit DCI  field), hence┌log₂(KA)┐-bit CRI is  used. This UL-related DCI can be a  DCI used forCSI request (which  include CRI reporting request).

When a UE is configured with CRI reporting, a CRI report can bemultiplexed with other CSI parameters such as CQI, PMI, and/or RI.Several embodiments pertaining to this issue can be described below.

In one embodiment (MUX-0), CRI is reported alone (separately from otherCSI parameters) and measured from a different RS/CSI-RS setting(analogous to CSI-RS resource configuration in LTE) from that associatedwith CQI/PMI/RI. The RS setting used for CRI calculation/reporting caninclude K>1 NZP CSI-RS resources. The separate RS setting used forCQI/PMI/RI calculation/reporting can include only 1 NZP CSI-RS resource.In this case, CRI is reported in different subframes/slots from at leastone of CQI, PMI, and RI.

In another embodiment (MUX-1), CRI is multiplexed (reported together)with CQI, PMI, and/or RI, and measured from a RS/CSI-RS settingassociated with CQI/PMI/RI. This RS/CSI-RS setting can include K>1 NZPCSI-RS resources. In this case, CRI can be reported in samesubframes/slots as CQI/PMI/RI. CQI/PMI/RI is calculated by measuringonly one of the K>1 NZP CSI-RS resources—if CRI is configured withK_(A)=1. Optionally, if K_(A)>1, K_(A) sets of CQI/PMI/RI are includedin the CSI report.

Compared to MUX-1, MUX-0 allows UE to measure fewer number of CSI-RSresources (“beams”) on average.

As previously mentioned, for each of K_(A) CSI-RS resource indicesindicated in CRI, at least one CSI-RSRP (or beam-RSRP) can also bereported. This CSI-RSRP can be treated as a type of CQI or CSIparameter. When a UE is configured with CSI-RSRP reporting in additionto CRI reporting, several embodiments can be described as follows. Inone embodiment, K_(A) CSI-RSRPs associated with K_(A) CSI-RS resources(“beams”) are reported in conjunction with CRI. In another embodiment,out of the K_(A) CSI-RS resources indicated by CRI, CSI-RSRPs are givenonly for a subset of these resources (e.g. M≤K_(A) CSI-RS resources,wherein M can be either fixed or configured by the network or chosen bythe UE). In another embodiment, only one CSI-RSRP representing all theK_(A) CSI-RS resources (“beams”), e.g. average RSRP, minimum RSRP, ormedian RSRP across K_(A) CSI-RS resources are reported in conjunctionwith CRI. In another embodiment, only two CSI-RSRPs representing maximumand minimum CSI-RSRPs, maximum and mean CSI-RSRPs, or mean and minimumCSI-RSRPs are reported in conjunction with CRI.

When a UE is configured to report CRI in conjunction with M≤K_(A)CSI-RSRPs associated with M≤K_(A) CSI-RS resources (where the value of Mis either fixed or configured by the network), CRI and the M CSI-RSRPscan be concatenated to form a UCI codeword as illustrated in FIG. 6.This UCI codeword 600 is a bit sequence (which includes the bit sequencefor CRI 601 and the bit sequences for the M CSI-RSRPs 602) a₀, a₁, a₂,a₃, . . . , a_(A-1) with a₀ corresponding to the first bit of the CRIfield in the UCI codeword 600, a₁ corresponding to the second bit of theCRI field in the UCI codeword 600, and a_(A-1) corresponding to the lastbit of the last CSI-RSRP field (CSI-RSRP M−1) in the UCI codeword 600.

For the third component (that is, periodic and semi-persistent CSI),semi-persistent CSI (SP-CSI) is functionally the same as P-CSI exceptthat SP-CSI requires an activation (whether via RRC signaling, MAC CE,or L1 DL control signaling) to start and a deactivation/release to stop.

In the present disclosure, P-CSI/SP-CSI is designed in such a way toavoid or minimize inter-subframe/slot dependencies. When single-CW layermapping is utilized, one CQI representing all the layers in one CW canbe used for a given reporting unit in frequency domain. Therefore, CQIpayload (whether it is one CQI per CSI reporting band or subband CQI) isindependent of the RI value. Furthermore, if P-CSI/SP-CSI is utilizedfor low-resolution feedback (e.g. link maintenance)—such as Type I CSIin NR with one CQI and one PMI for all the subbands in the CSI reportingband—the total CSI payload can be readily fitted within one UL reportingsubframe/slot.

In one embodiment, P-CSI/SP-CSI includes a single CSI reporting per CSIreporting band which comprises a single RI representing all subbands ina configured CSI reporting band, a single CQI representing all the Llayers (where RI indicates a recommended rank of L) and all the subbandsin the configured CSI reporting band, and a single set of PMIrepresenting all the subbands in the configured CSI reporting band. Thesingle PMI set can be composed of one precoder index parameter i, or twoprecoder indices (first and second PMI) i₁ and i₂, or even more precoderindices. Furthermore, the first PMI can be composed of one precoderindex, two precoder indices i_(1,1) and i_(1,2) (e.g. fortwo-dimensional codebooks). The aforementioned CQI, PMI, and RI arereported in one UL subframe/slot. The UE calculates PMI conditioned onthe reported RI in a same subframe/slot. Likewise, the UE calculates CQIconditioned on the reported PMI and RI in a same subframe/slot.

In a variation of the above embodiment, a single CSI reporting parameteris used to represent joint hypotheses for PMI and RI. For illustrativepurposes, this CSI reporting parameter can be termed R-PMI whose payloadis ┌ log₂ (Σ_(r=1) ^(R) ^(MAX) H_(r))┐ bits, where H_(r) is the numberof precoder hypotheses associated with rank-r and R_(MAX) is the maximumnumber of layers (value of rank) configured for the UE. An example ofR-PMI is given in TABLE 2 where ┌ log₂ (Σ_(r=1) ^(R) ^(MAX) H_(r))┐ bitsare used and the remaining

$\left( {2^{\lceil{\log_{2}{({\sum\limits_{r = 1}^{R_{MAX}}\; H_{r}})}}\rceil} - \left( {\sum\limits_{r = 1}^{R_{MAX}}\; H_{r}} \right)} \right)$hypotheses, if any, are reserved, possibly for other/future usage. Thesingle PMI set can be composed of one precoder index parameter i, or twoprecoder indices (first and second PMI) i₁ and i₂, or even more precoderindices. Furthermore, the first PMI can be composed of one precoderindex, two precoder indices i_(1,1) and i_(1,2) (e.g. fortwo-dimensional codebooks). Therefore, a PMI hypothesis in TABLE 2 canrepresent a hypothesis for i, (i₁, i₂), or (i₁₁, i₁₂, i₂). This approachof using joint hypotheses allows a potentially more efficient manner inminimizing P-CSI/SP-CSI payload especially when the number of PMIhypotheses varies across different values of RI (which is usually thecase).

TABLE 2 Example of R-PMI definition R-PMI hypothesis RI hypothesis PMIhypothesis 0 RI = 1 Precoder 0 for RI = 1 1 RI = 1 Precoder 1 for RI = 1. . . . . . . . . H₁ − 1 RI = 1 Precoder H₁ − 1 for RI = 1 . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . (Σ_(r=1) ^(R) ^(MAX−1) H_(r)) RI = R_(MAX)Precoder 0 for RI = R_(MAX) (Σ_(r=1) ^(R) ^(MAX−1) H_(r)) + 1 RI =R_(MAX) Precoder 1 for RI = R_(MAX) . . . . . . . . . (Σ_(r=1) ^(R)^(MAX) H_(r)) RI = R_(MAX) Precoder H_(R) _(MAX) − 1 for RI = R_(MAX) .. . 2┌log₂(Σ_(r=1) ^(R) ^(MAX) H_(r))┐ − 1 Reserved

In a variation of the above embodiment, when 2-CW layer mapping isutilized for higher ranks (such as rank 5-8, or, optionally, rank 3-8)in addition to 1-CW layer mapping for lower ranks (such as rank 1-4, or,optionally, rank 1-2, respectively), one CQI representing all the layersin one CW or two CWs can be used for a given reporting unit in frequencydomain. Therefore, CQI payload (whether it is one CQI per CSI reportingband or subband CQI) can still be independent of the RI value regardlessof the number of CWs. In this case, a single CSI reporting parameter, asdescribed above in the previous paragraph, is used to represent jointhypotheses for PMI and RI. For P-CSI/SP-CSI, the CSI report includes asingle CSI reporting per CSI reporting band which comprises a single RIrepresenting all subbands in a configured CSI reporting band, a singleCQI representing all the L layers (where RI indicates a recommended rankof L) and all the subbands in the configured CSI reporting band, and asingle set of PMI representing all the subbands in the configured CSIreporting band.

In another embodiment, when a UE is configured with CRI reporting, twooptions exist regardless whether CRI and CQI/PMI/RI are calculated usinga same CSI-RS resource (MUX-1 in component 2) or two different CSI-RSresources (MUX-0 in component 2). In the first option (Alt 0), CRI canbe reported separately (for example, in a different set ofsubframes/slots) from CQI/PMI/RI. This option is more natural for MUX-0.In the second option (Alt 1), CRI is reported together with CQI/PMI/RI(in a same set of subframes/slots). As previously mentioned forcomponent 2, for each of K_(A) CSI-RS resource indices indicated in CRI,at least one CSI-RSRP (or beam-RSRP) can also be reported.

In another embodiment when a UE is configured with DL or UL assignmentwhich indicates 2 CWs, the total payload for this case (including RI,PMI, and CQI) can be kept the same. Here the number of bits allocatedfor reporting RI remains the same. However, since one CQI is used perCW, only one field of CQI is included when L≤4 (CQI−1). However, as thenumber of CWs is two, two CQI fields can be included (CQI−1 and CQI−2).The second CQI CQI−2 can be reported as a full CQI or a differential CQIrelative to the first CQI CQI−1. An example is illustrated in diagram610 of FIG. 6. To maintain the same payload for P-CSI, the PMI reportingfor lower ranks can be decreased (since the codebooks associated withhigher ranks tend to be of smaller size). Therefore, the number of bitsfor CQI−1 plus PMI when RI≤4 is the same as the number of bits for CQI−1plus CQI−2 plus PMI when RI>4. This is beneficial since precoding tendsto perform better for lower ranks.

When a UE is configured to report CSI for more than one (M>1) DLcomponent carriers (CCs) in case of carrier aggregation (CA), the bitsequences associated CSI-UCIs for M different DL CCs can be concatenated(CC₀|CC₁| . . . |CC_(M-1)) into one UCI codeword to be encoded with achannel coding block.

Each of the embodiments described for Component 3 applies (in general)for CSI reporting with reasonably small payload—either periodic,semi-persistent, or aperiodic; either wideband/partial-band (one reportper a configured CSI reporting band) or subband (one report per subbandwithin a configured CSI reporting band). The associated CSI-UCI can betransmitted via either a separate UL control channel from PUSCH(analogous to PUCCH for LTE) or PUSCH itself by allocating a smallnumber of PRBs or a fraction of PRB (a set of sub-carriers within onePRB and/or a set of OFDM symbols within one slot). The second option(transmission on PUSCH) can be done whether CSI-UCI is multiplexed withUL-SCH data or not.

For the fourth component (that is, aperiodic CSI), aperiodic CSI (A-CSI)accommodates reporting with different frequency granularities (onereport for all the N_(SB) subbands in a configured CSI reporting band,or one report per subband in a configured CSI reporting band) for CQIand PMI. RI and CRI (and its associated CSI-RSRP(s)), however, are onlyreported with one frequency granularity (one report for all the N_(SB)subbands in a configured CSI reporting band).

In addition, if single-CW layer mapping is used, CQI payload isindependent of RI value. PMI payload, however, can be dependent on RIvalue. For example, for Type I (normal) CSI with lower spatialresolution, PMI payload can be made RI-independent or less dependent onRI value. For Type II (enhanced) CSI with higher spatial resolution, PMIpayload can be RI-dependent (for instance, PMI payload can beproportional to RI value with per-layer quantization/feedback). Thefollowing embodiments, however, can be utilized whether single-CW layermapping is used or not. For example, they are also applicable for alayer mapping where the maximum of 2 CWs are used (such as that used forLTE).

In one embodiment of the present disclosure (Scheme 0), all the reportedCSI parameters are jointly encoded into one codeword. This codeword,after code block (CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), isan input to a channel coding block. This embodiment is illustrated indiagram 700 of FIG. 7 when CQI, PMI, and RI are reported. An example usecase for this embodiment is when only one PMI is reported for the entireCSI reporting band (CRB), i.e. “wideband” or “partial-band” PMIreporting (either for Type I CSI, Type II CSI, or both types). In thiscase, PMI and RI can be jointly indicated as discussed in Component 3.Therefore, CQI can be jointly encoded with PMI and RI. Scheme 0 can alsobe used when a UE is configured with CRI reporting or CRI reporting inconjunction with at least one CSI-RSRP or, in general, a quality metricfor beam management (including CQI).

In another embodiment of the present disclosure (Scheme 1), when a UE isconfigured with RI reporting, RI is separately encoded (codewordsegment 1) while other reported CSI parameters are jointly encoded intoone codeword segment (codeword segment 2). This codeword segment 2,after code block (CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), isan input to a channel coding block. Codeword segment 1 is an input toanother channel coding block. Since codeword segment 1 is short, a CRCcan either be added or not. This embodiment is illustrated in diagram800 (where modulation mapper is applied on each segments beforemultiplexing) and diagram 850 (where modulation mapper is applied aftermultiplexing the two segments) of FIG. 8.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure (Scheme 2), when a UE isconfigured with RI reporting, RI and at least one other CSI parameterwhose payload is independent of the value of RI are jointly encoded toform a codeword segment 1. This codeword segment 1, after code block(CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is an input to achannel coding block. Other remaining CSI parameters are jointly encodedto form another codeword segment 2. This codeword segment 2, after codeblock (CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is an inputto a channel coding block.

Compared to Scheme 1 and Scheme 3 (described later) wherein RI is alsoseparately encoded from at least one other CSI parameter, Scheme 2allows RI (whose payload is typically small) to be jointly encoded withat least one other CSI parameter such as the payload of codeword segment1 is large enough for justifying CRC insertion after channel coding.With CRC, the gNB, upon receiving CSI-UCI transmission from the UE, canperform error detection to reliably check whether the CSI-UCI issuccessfully decoded or not. Erroneous detection of RI can becatastrophic as explained before.

In a variation of the previous embodiment (Scheme 2) of the presentdisclosure (Scheme 2A), when a UE is configured with RI reporting, RIand CQI are jointly encoded to form a codeword segment 1. This codewordsegment 1, after code block (CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CBsegmentation), is an input to a channel coding block. PMI (allparameters pertaining to PMI) is jointly encoded to form anothercodeword segment 2. This codeword segment 2, after code block (CB) CRCinsertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is an input to a channelcoding block. This embodiment is illustrated in diagram 900 (wheremodulation mapper is applied on each segments before multiplexing) anddiagram 901 (where modulation mapper is applied after multiplexing thetwo segments) of FIG. 9A. An example use case for this embodiment iswhen Type II CSI is reported with one PMI report for all the subbands inthe CSI reporting band (i.e. either “wideband” or “partial-band” PMI).In this case, the PMI payload, albeit one report, is still reasonablylarge and can be encoded separately from CQI and RI (as codeword segment2). Another example use case for this embodiment is when subband PMI isreported (regardless of Type I/II, single- or dual-stage PMI).

In a variation of the previous embodiment (Scheme 2) of the presentdisclosure (Scheme 2B), the CSI parameters included in PMI arepartitioned into two parts: PMI part I and PMI part II. When a UE isconfigured with RI reporting, RI, CQI, and PMI part I are jointlyencoded to form a codeword segment 1. This codeword segment 1, aftercode block (CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is aninput to a channel coding block. PMI part II is jointly encoded to formanother codeword segment 2. This codeword segment 2, after code block(CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is an input to achannel coding block. This embodiment is illustrated in diagram 910(where modulation mapper is applied on each segments beforemultiplexing) and diagram 911 (where modulation mapper is applied aftermultiplexing the two segments) of FIG. 9B.

Some sub-embodiments of Scheme 2B can be described as follows.

In a first sub-embodiment of Scheme 2B, PMI part I comprises the PMIreporting parameters associated with the first layer whereas PMI part IIcomprises PMI reporting parameters associated with the second to thelast layer (with RI=L, this layer corresponds to the L^(th)). Thisembodiment is relevant especially for Type II CSI when PMI can bedefined per layer.

In a second sub-embodiment of Scheme 2B, PMI part I comprises the PMIreporting parameters associated with the first or first stage (wideband)PMI parameter i₁, or (i₁₁, i₁₂) which is common for all the layers,whereas PMI part II comprises PMI reporting parameters associated withthe second or second stage PMI parameter i₂ (which is RI-dependent).This embodiment is relevant for both Type I and Type II CSI when PMIpayload depends on the value of RI. In one example use case of thissub-embodiment where PMI frequency granularity is per subband, RI andthe first or first stage (wideband) PMI parameter i₁, or (i₁₁,i₁₂)—onei₁ report per CSI reporting band regardless of PMI frequencygranularity—can be jointly indicated as described in Component 3. Thesecond or second stage PMI parameter i₂ (which is RI-dependent) can bereported per subband.

In a third sub-embodiment of Scheme 2B, PMI part I comprises the PMIreporting parameters associated with the first or first stage (wideband)PMI parameter i₁, or (i₁₁,i₁₂) which is common for all the layers, aswell as the second or second stage PMI parameter i₂ associated with thefirst layer. PMI part II comprises PMI reporting parameters associatedwith the second or second stage PMI parameter i₂ associated with thesecond to the last layer (with RI=L, this layer corresponds to theL^(th)). This embodiment is relevant especially for Type II CSI when PMIcan be defined per layer.

For Scheme 2/2A/2B, it is expected that each of the two codewordsegments is sufficiently large. Hence, a polar code or a TBCC can beused. In regard of CRC insertion for the two codeword segments, aL_(CRC)-bit CRC can be inserted into each of the two codeword segments(which results in two separate CRC insertions) before channel coding. Ifthe size of a segment is sufficiently large that code block/CBsegmentation needs to be performed, a L_(CRC)-bit CRC can be insertedinto each of the CBs. Optionally, only one L_(CRC)-bit CRC can be usedfor both codeword segments (hence a joint CRC for segments 1 and 2). Inthis case, CRC insertion is performed prior to segmenting the CSI-UCIcodeword into two. Likewise, if the size of a CSI-UCI codeword issufficiently large that code block/CB segmentation needs to beperformed, a L_(CRC)-bit CRC can be inserted into each of the CBs.

For Scheme 2/2A/2B, a gNB can first decode codeword segment 1 (whichincludes RI) before segment 2 (whose size is RI-dependent). Based on thedecoded RI value, the payload size of segment 2 is known. In addition,if at least one L_(CRC)-bit CRC is inserted into codeword segment 1, thegNB can check whether segment 1 is successfully decoded or not. Thisincreases the reliability of the gNB inference of the payload size ofsegment 2.

For Scheme 2/2A/2B, when a UE is configured with CRI reporting (with orwithout CSI-RSRP), CRI or CRI+CSI-RSRP can be included in codewordsegment 1, that is, jointly encoded with RI and at least one other CSIparameter whose payload size is independent of RI value.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure (Scheme 3), when a UE isconfigured with RI reporting, RI is encoded to form a codeword segment1, CQI is encoded to form a codeword segment 2, and PMI is encoded toform a codeword segment 3. Each of the three codeword segments,potentially after code block (CB) CRC insertion and/or CB segmentation,is an input to a channel coding block. This embodiment is illustrated indiagram 1000 (where modulation mapper is applied on each segments beforemultiplexing) and diagram 1001 (where modulation mapper is applied aftermultiplexing the two segments) of FIG. 10. Channel coding and CRCinsertion for Scheme 3 follow those for Scheme 2/2A/2B by extension thedescriptions for 3 codeword segments.

In a variation of any of the above embodiments 0/1/2/2A/2B/3, when 2-CWlayer mapping is utilized for higher ranks (such as rank 5-8, or,optionally, rank 3-8) in addition to 1-CW layer mapping for lower ranks(such as rank 1-4, or, optionally, rank 1-2, respectively), one CQIrepresenting all the layers in one CW or two CWs can be used for a givenreporting unit in frequency domain. Therefore, CQI payload (whether itis one CQI per CSI reporting band or subband CQI) can still beindependent of the RI value regardless of the number of CWs. In thiscase, a single CSI reporting parameter, as described above in theprevious paragraph, is used to represent joint hypotheses for PMI andRI. For P-CSI/SP-CSI, the CSI report includes a single CSI reporting perCSI reporting band which comprises a single RI representing all subbandsin a configured CSI reporting band, a single CQI representing all the Llayers (where RI indicates a recommended rank of L) and all the subbandsin the configured CSI reporting band, and a single set of PMIrepresenting all the subbands in the configured CSI reporting band.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure (Scheme 4) can be used when2-CW layer mapping is utilized for higher ranks (when RI>x, such asRI>4, or, optionally, RI>2) in addition to 1-CW layer mapping for lowerranks (when RI≤x, such as RI≤4, or, optionally, RI≤2, respectively). Inthis case, depending on the value of RI, the number of CWs can changebetween 1 and 2, different CQIs can be used for the two different CWswhen the RI value implies the use of 2 CWs (that is, CQI−1 for the firstCW and, when RI>x, CQI−2 for the second CW). In other words, when RI≤x(such as RI≤4, or, optionally, RI≤2), one CQI (CQI-1) representing oneCW is reported. Else, RI>x (such as RI>4, or, optionally, RI>2), twoCQIs (CQI-1 and CQI-2) representing two CWs are reported. Twosub-embodiments of Scheme 4 are illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

In the sub-embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11A, the CSI parametersincluded in PMI are partitioned into two parts: PMI part I and PMI partII. Therefore, the descriptions of different examples for PMI part I andpart II from Scheme 2/2A/2B can apply. When a UE is configured with RIreporting, RI, CQI-1, and PMI part I are jointly encoded to form acodeword segment 1. This codeword segment 1, after code block (CB) CRCinsertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is an input to a channelcoding block. When RI>x (see above), PMI part II is jointly encoded withCQI-2 to form another codeword segment 2. Otherwise, when RI≤x, PMI partII is encoded (by itself) to form another codeword segment 2. Thiscodeword segment 2, after code block (CB) CRC insertion (or potentiallyCB segmentation), is an input to a channel coding block. This embodimentis illustrated in diagram 1100 (where modulation mapper is applied oneach segments before multiplexing) and diagram 1101 (where modulationmapper is applied after multiplexing the two segments) of FIG. 11A.

In the sub-embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11B, the CSI parametersincluded in PMI are encoded together. When a UE is configured with RIreporting, RI and CQI-1 are jointly encoded to form a codewordsegment 1. This codeword segment 1, after code block (CB) CRC insertion(or potentially CB segmentation), is an input to a channel coding block.When RI>x (see above), PMI is jointly encoded with CQI-2 to form anothercodeword segment 2. Otherwise, when RI≤x, PMI is encoded (by itself) toform another codeword segment 2. This codeword segment 2, after codeblock (CB) CRC insertion (or potentially CB segmentation), is an inputto a channel coding block. This embodiment is illustrated in diagram1110 (where modulation mapper is applied on each segments beforemultiplexing) and diagram 1111 (where modulation mapper is applied aftermultiplexing the two segments) of FIG. 11B.

In another sub-embodiment which is applicable to Type II with rank 1-2,beam amplitude/power coefficients can be reported separately in additionto the first PMI (PMI part 1) i₁. Based on the value of such (wideband)beam amplitude/power coefficients, the subband reporting payload can beadjusted. In one example, when some of the beam amplitude/combiningcoefficients are zero, the total subband reporting payload can bereduced by not reporting, for instance, the subband part of theamplitude/power coefficients (when the UE is configured to reportsubband beam amplitude/power coefficients in addition to wideband beamamplitude/power coefficients). Here, the value of L can be configuredvia higher layer signaling or MAC CE. However, when some of the widebandamplitude/power coefficients can be zero, the total reported CSI variesdynamically.

Therefore, the first segment can carry CSI parameters which are notaffected by RI and/or the number of non-zero wideband amplitude/powercoefficients, such as the wideband amplitude/power coefficients for thefirst layer (Amp-1, which includes the indicator for thestrongest/leading coefficient for the first layer), along with RI(maximum of 2), CQI (only one CQI is reported since the maximum rank is2), and the first PMI (i₁ which is reported as a wideband CSI parameter,denoted as PMI part 1). The second segment includes the second PMI (i₂which can be reported per subband and per layer, denoted as PMI part 2),the wideband amplitude/power coefficients for the second layer (WidebandAmp-2, if R=2, which includes the indicator for the strongest/leadingcoefficient for the second layer), and the subband part of theamplitude/power coefficients (Subband Amp-1 for the first layer and, ifRI=2, Subband Amp-2 for the second layer, when the UE is configured toreport subband beam amplitude/power coefficients in addition to widebandbeam amplitude/power coefficients). This is illustrated in diagram 1120of FIG. 11C.

Optionally, the wideband amplitude/power coefficients for the secondlayer (Wideband Amp-2, which includes the indicator for thestrongest/leading coefficient for the second layer) can be included inthe first segment as illustrated in diagram 1121 of FIG. 11C (since thepayload of this wideband reporting). In this case, since the payload forthe first segment is to be kept the same regardless of the value of RI(1 or 2), the payload of the first segment is determined or provisionedassuming RI=2.

The embodiments illustrated in diagrams 1120 and 1121 can be extendedwhen Type I is supported for rank 1, 2, 3, and 4. The extension can beinferred by those skilled in the art.

In another sub-embodiment illustrated in diagram 1122 (a variation ofthe previous embodiment illustrated in diagram 1121) which is applicableto Type II with rank 1-2, beam amplitude/power coefficients can bereported separately in addition to the first PMI (PMI part 1) i₁. Basedon the value of such (wideband) beam amplitude/power coefficients, thesubband reporting payload can be adjusted. In one example, when some ofthe beam amplitude/combining coefficients are zero, the total subbandreporting payload can be reduced by not reporting, for instance, thesubband part of the amplitude/power coefficients (when the UE isconfigured to report subband beam amplitude/power coefficients inaddition to wideband beam amplitude/power coefficients). Here, the valueof L can be configured via higher layer signaling or MAC CE. However,when some of the wideband amplitude/power coefficients can be zero, thetotal reported CSI varies dynamically.

In this example sub-embodiment, the wideband amplitude/powercoefficients associated with both the first and the second layer(Wideband Amp-1, which includes the indicator for the strongest/leadingcoefficient for the first layer, Wideband Amp-2, which includes theindicator for the strongest/leading coefficient for the second layer)can be included in the first segment as illustrated in diagram 1122 ofFIG. 11C (since the payload of this wideband reporting). Here both setsof coefficients are included regardless of the value of RI. However, RIis not included or reported—but instead can be inferred from the valuesof Wideband Amp-1 and/or Wideband Amp-2. For example, if the 2Lamplitude coefficients corresponding to Wideband Amp-2 are zero, it canbe assumed that RI=1. Or similarly if the 2L amplitude coefficientscorresponding to Wideband Amp-1 are zero, it can be assumed that RI=1.

In this case, since the payload for the first segment is to be kept thesame regardless of the value of RI (1 or 2), the payload of the firstsegment is determined or provisioned assuming RI=2.

In another sub-embodiment illustrated in diagram 1130 in FIG. 11D (avariation of the previous embodiment illustrated in diagram 1121 in FIG.11C) which is applicable to Type II with rank 1-2, three-part UCImultiplexing is used wherein CQI, RI, and PMI part 1 are multiplexed andencoded together in part 1, but separately from Wideband Amp-1 and/orWideband Amp-2 (Wideband Amp-2 is included only if RI=2, otherwise onlyWideband Amp-1 is included) in part 2. The other parameters (PMI part 2,Subband Amp-1, and, if RI=2, Subband Amp-2) are multiplexed in part 3,which is separately encoded from Part 1 and Part 2, Based on the valueof such (wideband) beam amplitude/power coefficients, the subbandreporting payload can be adjusted. In one example, when some of the beamamplitude/combining coefficients are zero, the total subband reportingpayload can be reduced by not reporting, for instance, the subband partof the amplitude/power coefficients (when the UE is configured to reportsubband beam amplitude/power coefficients in addition to wideband beamamplitude/power coefficients). Here, the value of L can be configuredvia higher layer signaling or MAC CE. However, when some of the widebandamplitude/power coefficients can be zero, the total reported CSI variesdynamically.

In this example sub-embodiment, the wideband amplitude/powercoefficients associated with both the first and the second layer(Wideband Amp-1, which includes the indicator for the strongest/leadingcoefficient for the first layer, Wideband Amp-2, which includes theindicator for the strongest/leading coefficient for the second layer)can be included in the second segment (part 2) as illustrated in diagram1130 of FIG. 11D (since the payload of this wideband reporting varieswith reported RI).

Optionally, as illustrated in diagram 1131 of FIG. 11D, part 1 includedRI and CQI whereas part 2 includes PMI part 1, Wideband Amp-1, andWideband Amp-2 (Wideband Amp-2 is included only if RI=2, otherwise onlyPMI part 1 and Wideband Amp-1 are included) in part 2.

In another sub-embodiment illustrated in diagram 1132 in FIG. 11D (avariation of the previous embodiment illustrated in diagram 1121 in FIG.11C) which is applicable to Type II with rank 1-2, three-part UCImultiplexing is used wherein CQI, RI, PMI part 1, and Wideband Amp-1 aremultiplexed and encoded together in part 1, and Wideband Amp-2 (WidebandAmp-2 is reported only if RI=2) in part 2. The other parameters (PMIpart 2, Subband Amp-1, and, if RI=2, Subband Amp-2) are multiplexed inpart 3, which is separately encoded from part 1 and part 2, Based on thevalue of such (wideband) beam amplitude/power coefficients, the subbandreporting payload can be adjusted. In one example, when some of the beamamplitude/combining coefficients are zero, the total subband reportingpayload can be reduced by not reporting, for instance, the subband partof the amplitude/power coefficients (when the UE is configured to reportsubband beam amplitude/power coefficients in addition to wideband beamamplitude/power coefficients). Here, the value of L can be configuredvia higher layer signaling or MAC CE. However, when some of the widebandamplitude/power coefficients can be zero, the total reported CSI variesdynamically.

In this example sub-embodiment, the wideband amplitude/powercoefficients associated with the first layer (Wideband Amp-1, whichincludes the indicator for the strongest/leading coefficient for thefirst layer), is included in the first segment (part 1). The payload ofpart 1 reporting is hence fixed. The wideband amplitude/powercoefficients associated with the second layer (Wideband Amp-2, whichincludes the indicator for the strongest/leading coefficient for thesecond layer) is included in the second segment (part 2) as illustratedin diagram 1132 of FIG. 11D. Since the payload of this widebandreporting (part 2) varies depending on the reported RI. If RI=1, part 2is not reported, and if RI=2, the Wideband amp-2 for the second layer(included in part 2) is reported. Part 3, on the other hand, isreported.

Optionally, as illustrated in diagram 1133 of FIG. 11E, part 1 includesRI, CQI, and Wideband Amp-1 whereas part 2 includes PMI part 1 andWideband Amp-2 (Wideband Amp-2 is included only if RI=2, otherwise onlyPMI part 1 is included) in part 2.

In the previous embodiments (illustrated in diagrams 1121-1133) on TypeII CSI reporting, the PMI part 1 (i₁) indicates the following twocomponents: 1) The rotation factor (q₁,q₂) where q₁,q₂ ∈{0,1,2,3}, whichcorresponds to 16 combinations (hence requires 4-bits reporting), and 2)The selection of L orthogonal beams, which is either joint, ┌ log₂<^(N)¹ ^(N) ² ≥┐ bits, or independent per beam, L┌ log₂(N₁N₂)┐ bits. The twocomponents are reported either jointly or separately as two componentsof PMI part 1.

In the above embodiments (illustrated in diagrams 1121-1133) on Type IICSI reporting, the Wideband Amp-1 and Wideband Amp-2 can also bereferred to as RPI₀ and RPI₁ where RPI stands for relative powerindicator. Furthermore, RPI₀ indicates the strongest/leading coefficientfor the first layer and Wideband (WB) amplitudes p_(0,0) ^((WB)), . . ., p_(0,2L-2) ^((WB)) of remaining (2L−1) coefficients for the firstlayer, meanwhile RPI₁ indicates the strongest/leading coefficient forthe second layer and WB amplitudes p_(1,0) ^((WB)), . . . , p_(1,2L-2)^((WB)) of remaining (2L−1) coefficients for the second layer.

The strongest/leading coefficients for the first layer and second layercan also be referred to as SCI₀ and SCI₁, SCI stands for strongestcoefficient indicator. In a variation, SCI₀ and SCI₁ can also bereported separately from Wideband (WB) amplitudes for the two layers. Inthis case, RPI₀ and RPI₁ indicate the WB amplitude of the remaining(2L−1) coefficients for the two layers.

In the above embodiments (illustrated in diagrams 1121-1133) on Type IICSI reporting, the Subband Amp-1 and Subband Amp-2 can also be referredto as SRPI₀ and SRPI₁ where SRPI stands for subband relative powerindicator. Furthermore, SRPI₀ indicates the Subband (SB) amplitudesp_(0,0) ^((SB)), . . . , p_(0,2L-2) ^((SB)) of remaining 2L−1coefficients for the first layer, and SRPI₁ indicates the Subbband (SB)amplitudes p_(1,0) ^((SB)), . . . , p_(1,2L-2) ^((SB)) of remaining 2L−1coefficients for the second layer.

In the above embodiments (illustrated in diagrams 1121-1133) on Type IICSI reporting, the PMI part 2 (i₂) indicates the SB phase of 2L−1coefficients for each layer. So, if RI=1, then PMI part 2 corresponds toi₂=i_(2,0) for one layer, and if RI=2, then PMI part 2 corresponds toi₂=(i_(2,0), i_(2,1)) for two layers.

For each layer, the SB phase and SB amplitude can also be reportedjointly as PMI part 2-1 (comprising i_(2,0) and SRPI₀ for the firstlayer) and PMI part 2-2 (comprising i_(2,1) and SRPI₁ for the secondlayer). Two examples are illustrated in FIG. 11E (diagrams 1134 and1135).

In the embodiments on Type II CSI reporting, the PMI comprises a first(WB) PMI i₁ and a second (SB) PMI i₂. The first PMI i₁=[i_(1,1),i_(1,2), i_(1,3), i_(1,4)] comprises two layer-common (i.e., reportedcommon for two layers if UE reports RI=2) components: 1) Orthogonalbasis set (indicated using index i_(1,1) indicating the rotation factors(q₁, q₂)) and 2) L beam selection (indicated using index i_(1,2)). Inaddition, two layer-specific (i.e., reported for each of the two layersif UE reports RI=2) components are reported: 1) Strongest coefficient(indicated using index i_(1,3)) and 2) WB amplitudes p_(l,i) ⁽¹⁾(indicated using index i_(1,4)).

The indices i_(1,3) and i_(1,4) can be further described as

$\mspace{14mu}{i_{1,3} = \left\{ {{\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack i_{1,3,1} \right\rbrack & {{RI} = 1} \\\begin{bmatrix}i_{1,3,1} & i_{1,3,2}\end{bmatrix} & {{RI} = 2}\end{matrix}\mspace{14mu}{and}\mspace{14mu} i_{1,4}} = \left\{ {\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack i_{1,4,1} \right\rbrack & {{RI} = 1} \\\begin{bmatrix}i_{1,4,1} & i_{1,4,2}\end{bmatrix} & {{RI} = 2}\end{matrix}.} \right.} \right.}$The second PMI i₂=[i_(2,1), i_(2,2)] comprises two layer-specificcomponents: 1) SB phase c_(l,i) indicated using index i_(2,1) and 2) SBamplitude p_(l,i) ⁽²⁾ (which can be turned ON or OFF by RRC signaling)indicated using index i_(2,2), wherein

$\mspace{14mu}{i_{2,1} = \left\{ {{\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack i_{2,1,1} \right\rbrack & {{RI} = 1} \\\begin{bmatrix}i_{2,1,1} & i_{2,1,2}\end{bmatrix} & {{RI} = 2}\end{matrix}\mspace{14mu}{and}\mspace{14mu} i_{2,2}} = \left\{ {\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack i_{2,2,1} \right\rbrack & {{RI} = 1} \\\begin{bmatrix}i_{2,2,1} & i_{2,2,2}\end{bmatrix} & {{RI} = 2}\end{matrix}.} \right.} \right.}$Note that i_(1,3,2), i_(1,4,2), i_(2,1,2), and i_(2,1,2) are reportedonly when RI=2 is reported. The subscript l∈{0,1} is used for layers,and the subscript i∈{0,1, . . . , 2L−1} is used for coefficients. Thefirst PMI is reported in a wideband (WB) manner and the second PMI canbe reported in a wideband or subband (SB) manner.

In the embodiment illustrated in diagram 1140 which is applicable toType II with rank 1-2, as shown in FIG. 11F, two-part UCI multiplexingis used wherein CQI, RI, and (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) are multiplexed andencoded together in part 1, where N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) respectivelyindicate (DEF A) the number of reported WB amplitudes that are zero forlayer 1 and layer 2 respectively, i.e., p_(l,i) ⁽¹⁾=0; or optionally,they indicate (DEF B) the number of reported WB amplitudes that arenon-zero for layer 1 and layer 2 respectively, i.e., p_(l,i) ⁽¹⁾≠0; Theremaining CSI parameters are multiplexed and encoded together in part 2,where the remaining CSI includes the first PMI i₁ and the second PMI(i₂).

Based on the value of the reported (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) in part 1, the CSIreporting payload (bits) for part 2 is determined. In particular, thecomponents of the second PMI i₂ are reported only for the coefficientswhose corresponding reported WB amplitudes are non-zero.

In the embodiment illustrated in diagram 1141 which is applicable toType II with rank 1-2, three-part UCI multiplexing is used wherein part1 is the same as in the embodiment illustrated in diagram 1140, part 2and part 3 comprise the components of the first PMI i₁ and the secondPMI i₂ according to at least one of the options shown in TABLE 3 Anillustration (for diagram 1141 in TABLE 3) is shown in FIG. 11F.

TABLE 3 Options for part 2 and part 3 for the embodiment illustrated indiagram 1141 Options Part 2 Part 3 1141-0 i₁ i₂ 1141-1 i_(1, 3),i_(1, 4) i_(1, 1), i_(1, 2), i₂ 1141-2 i_(1, 3) i_(1, 1), i_(1, 2),i_(1, 4), i₂ 1141-3 i_(1, 4) i_(1, 1), i_(1, 2), i_(1, 3), i₂

The number of candidate values for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) reporting dependson the value of L which is configured (via RRC). At least one of thefollowing options is used to report (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)). In one option(Alt A), wherein we assume DEF A for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) andN_(0,2) takes a value from {0,1, . . . , 2L−1}. In another option (AltB), wherein we assume DEF A for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) and N_(0,2)takes a value from {0,1, . . . , 2L−2}, since the WB amplitude for thestrongest coefficient (indicated by i_(1,3)) can't be zero, it isexcluded in reporting N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) and hence the range of valuesfor N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) can be reduced by 1. In another option (Alt C),wherein we assume DEF B for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) takesa value from {0,1, . . . , 2L−1}. In another option (Alt D), wherein weassume DEF B for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) takes a valuefrom {0,1, . . . , 2L−2} (or optionally {1,2, . . . , 2L−1}), since theWB amplitude for the strongest coefficient (indicated by i_(1,3)) isalways non-zero, it is excluded (or optionally always included) inreporting N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) and hence the range of values for N_(0,1)and N_(0,2) can be reduced by 1. In one option (Alt E), wherein weassume DEF A for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) takes a value from {0,1, .. . , 2L−1}, and N_(0,2)=2L if RI=1 and takes a value from {0,1, . . . ,2L−1} if RI=2. In one option (Alt F), wherein we assume DEF B for(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) takes a value from {1, . . . , 2L}, andN_(0,2)=0 if RI=1 and takes a value from {1, . . . , 2L} if RI=2. Notethat the minimum value that N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) can take is 1 since thestrongest coefficient (indicated by i_(1,3)) is always non-zero (equals1). Optionally, if the strongest coefficient is excluded in determining(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), then N_(0,1) takes a value from {0, . . . , 2L−1},and N_(0,2)=−1 if RI=1 and takes a value from {0, . . . , 2L−1} if RI=2.The former values for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) are assumed in later embodimentsinvolving Alt F. The embodiments are however general and are applicableto the later values. In one option (Alt G), wherein we assume DEF A for(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) takes a value from {0,1, . . . , P−1}, andN_(0,2)=P if RI=1 and takes a value from {0,1, . . . , P−1} if RI=2,where 0<P≤2L. In one option (Alt H), wherein we assume DEF B for(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) takes a value from {2L−P+1, . . . , 2L}, andN_(0,2)=0 if RI=1 and takes a value from {2L−P+1, . . . , 2L} if RI=2,where 0<P≤2L. Note that the minimum value that N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) cantake is 1 since the strongest coefficient (indicated by i_(1,3)) isalways non-zero (equals 1). Optionally, if the strongest coefficient isexcluded in determining (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)), N_(0,1) takes a value from{2L−P, . . . , 2L−1}, and N_(0,2)=−1 if RI=1 and takes a value from{2L−P, . . . , 2L−1} if RI=2. The former values for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2))are assumed in later embodiments involving Alt H. The embodiments arehowever general and are applicable to the later values.

An example value for P in Alt G and Alt H is fixed to P=L. Optionally, Pis configured via higher layer (RRC) signaling or more dynamic MAC CEbased or DCI based signaling.

In one sub-embodiment of this embodiment, the RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2))are reported separately using 1-bit for RI reporting, and ┌ log₂ (2L)┐bits (for Alt A, Alt C, Alt E, and Alt F) or ┌ log₂ (2L−1)┐ bits (forAlt B and D) or ┌ log₂ (P)┘ bits (for Alt G and H) if RI=1 is reported,and using 2 ┌ log₂ (2L)┐ bits (for Alt A, Alt C, Alt E, and Alt F) or 2┌ log₂ (2L−1)┐ bits (for Alt B and D) or 2 ┌ log₂ (P)┐ bits (for Alt Gand H) if RI=2 is reported.

In another sub-embodiment of this embodiment (based on Alt A to Alt D),the RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) are reported joint according to at leastone of the following options. In one option, wherein we assume Alt A orAlt C for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting, N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) takes a valuefrom {0,1, . . . , 2L−1}. The corresponding joint RI and(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting table is as shown in TABLE 4. Optionally,the joint reporting is according to separate tables as shown in TABLE 5,TABLE 6, and TABLE 7 for L=2, 3, and 4, respectively. The number of bitsto report (I) for this joint report is ┌ log₂ (4L²+2L)┐ whichcorresponds to 5, 6, and 7 bits for L=2, 3, and 4, respectively. In oneoption, wherein we assume Alt B or Alt D for (N_(0,1),N_(0,2))reporting, N_(0,1) and N_(0,2) takes a value from {0,1, . . . , 2L−2}.The corresponding joint RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting table is asshown in TABLE 8. Optionally, the joint reporting is according toseparate tables as shown in TABLE 9, 10, and 11 for L=2, 3, and 4,respectively. The number of bits to report (I) for this joint report is┌ log₂ (4L²−2L)┐ which corresponds to 4, 5, and 6 bits for L=2, 3, and4, respectively.

TABLE 4 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for all LIndex (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2L − 1 1(0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (2L − 1, 0) 2L to 4L − 1 2 (0, 0), (1, 0),(2, 0), . . . (2L − 1, 0) 4L to 6L − 1 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (2L− 1, 1) . . . . . . 4L² to 4L² + (0, 2L − 1), (1, 2L − 1), (2, 2L − 1),. . . 2L − 1 (2L − 1, 2L − 1)

TABLE 5 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 2Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 3 1 (0,0), (1, 0), (2, 0), (3, 0) 4 to 7 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), (3, 0) 8 to11 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (3, 1) 12 to 15 (0, 2), (1, 2), (2, 2), (3,2) 16 to 19 (0, 3), (1, 3), (2, 3), (3, 3)

TABLE 6 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 3Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 5 1 (0,0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (5, 0) 6 to 11 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . .(5, 0) 12 to 17 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (5, 1) . . . . . . 36 to41 (0, 5), (1, 5), (2, 5), . . . (5, 5)

TABLE 7 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 4Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 0)) 0 to 7 1 (0,0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (7, 0) 8 to 15 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . .(7, 0) 16 to 23 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (7, 1) . . . . . . 64 to71 (0, 7), (1, 7), (2, 7), . . . (7, 7)

TABLE 8 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for all LIndex (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0,2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2L − 2 1(0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (2L − 2, 0) 2L − 1 to 4L − 3 2 (0, 0), (1,0), (2, 0), . . . (2L − 2, 0) 4L − 2 to 6L − 4 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), .. . (2L − 2, 1) . . . . . . 4L² − 4L + 1 to (0, 2L − 2), (1, 2L − 2),(2, 2L − 2), . . . 4L² − 2L − 1 (2L − 2, 2L − 2)

TABLE 9 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 2Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2 1 (0,0), (1, 0), (2, 0) 3 to 5 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0) 6 to 8 (0, 1), (1,1), (2, 1) 9 to 11 (0, 2), (1, 2), (2, 2)

TABLE 10 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 3Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 4 1 (0,0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (4, 0) 5 to 9 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . .(4, 0) 10 to 14 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (4, 1) . . . . . . 25 to29 (0, 4), (1, 4), (2, 4), . . . (4, 4)

TABLE 11 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 4Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 6 1 (0,0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (6, 0) 7 to 13 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . .(6, 0) 14 to 20 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (6, 1) . . . . . . 49 to55 (0, 6), (1, 6), (2, 6), . . . (6, 6)

In another sub-embodiment of this embodiment (based on Alt E and Alt F),the RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) are reported joint according to at leastone of the following options. In one option, wherein we assume Alt E for(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting, the joint RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2))reporting table is as shown in TABLE 12. Optionally, the joint reportingis according to separate tables as shown in TABLE 13, 14, and 15 forL=2, 3, and 4, respectively. The number of bits to report (I) for thisjoint report is ┌ log₂ (4L²+2L)┐ which corresponds to 5, 6, and 7 bitsfor L=2, 3, and 4, respectively. In one option, wherein we assume Alt Ffor (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting, the joint RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2))reporting table is as shown in TABLE 16. Optionally, the joint reportingis according to separate tables as shown in TABLE 17, 18, and 19 forL=2, 3, and 4, respectively. The number of bits to report (I) for thisjoint report is ┌ log₂(4L²+2L)┐ which corresponds to 5, 6, and 7 bitsfor L=2, 3, and 4, respectively.

TABLE 12 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for all LIndex (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2L − 1 1(0, 2L ), (1, 2L ), (2, 2L ), . . . (2L − 1, 2L ) 2L to 4L − 1 2 (0, 0),(1, 0), (2, 0), . . . (2L − 1, 0) 4L to 6L − 1 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), .. . (2L − 1, 1) . . . . . . 4L² to 4L² + (0, 2L − 1), (1, 2L − 1), (2,2L − 1), . . . 2L − 1 (2L − 1, 2L − 1)

TABLE 13 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 2Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 3 1 (0,4), (1, 4), (2, 4), (3, 4) 4 to 7 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), (3, 0) 8 to11 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (3, 1) 12 to 15 (0, 2), (1, 2), (2, 2) (3, 2)16 to 19 (0, 3.), (1, 3), (2, 3), (3, 3)

TABLE 14 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 3Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 5 1 (0,6), (1, 6), (2, 6), . . . (5, 6) 6 to 11 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . .(5, 0) 12 to 17 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (5, 1) . . . . . . 36 to41 (0, 5), (1, 5), (2, 5), . . . (5, 5)

TABLE 15 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 4Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 7 1 (0,8), (1, 8), (2, 8), . . . (7, 8) 8 to 15 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), . . .(7, 0) 16 to 23 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (7, 1) . . . . . . 64 to71 (0, 7), (1, 7), (2, 7), . . . (7, 7)

TABLE 16 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for allLIndex (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2L − 1 1(1, 0), (2, 0), (3, 0), . . . (2L, 0) 2L to 4L − 1 2 (1, 1), (2, 1), (3,1), . . . (2L, 1) 4L to 6L − 1 (1, 2), (2, 2), (3, 2), . . . (2L, 2) . .. . . . 4L² to 4L² + (1, 2L), (2, 2L), (3, 2L), . . . 2L − 1 (2L, 2L)

TABLE 17 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 2Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 3 1 (1,0), (2, 0), (3, 0), (4, 0) 4 to 7 2 (1, 1), (2, 1), (3, 1), (4, 1) 8 to11 (1, 2), (2, 2), (3, 2), (4, 2) 12 to 15 (1, 3), (2, 3), (3, 3), (4,3) 16 to 19 (1, 4), (2, 4), (3, 4), (4, 4)

TABLE 18 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 3Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 5 1 (1,0), (2, 0), . . . , (6, 0) 6 to 11 2 (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . , (6, 1) 12to 17 (1, 2), (2, 2), . . . , (6, 2) . . . . . . 36 to 41 (1, 6), (2,6), . . . , (6, 6)

TABLE 19 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for L = 4Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 7 1 (1,0), (2, 0), . . . , (8, 0) 8 to 15 2 (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . , (8, 1) 16to 23 (1, 2), (2, 2), . . . , (8, 2) . . . . . . 64 to 71 (1, 8), (2,8), . . . , (8, 8)

In another sub-embodiment of this embodiment (based on Alt G and Alt H),the RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) are reported joint according to at leastone of the following options. In one option, wherein we assume Alt E for(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting, the joint RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2))reporting table is as shown in TABLE 20. Optionally, the joint reportingis according to separate tables as shown in TABLE 21, 22, and 23 forL=2, 3, and 4, respectively. The number of bits to report (I) for thisjoint report is ┌ log₂(P²+P)┐ which corresponds to 3, 4, and 5 bits forL=2, 3, and 4, respectively. In one option, wherein we assume Alt F for(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting, the joint RI and (N_(0,1),N_(0,2))reporting table is as shown in TABLE 24. Optionally, the joint reportingis according to separate tables as shown in TABLE 25, 26, and 27 forL=2, 3, and 4, respectively. The number of bits to report (I) for thisjoint report is ┌ log₂(P²+P)┐ which corresponds to 3, 4, and 5 bits forL=2, 3, and 4, respectively.

TABLE 20 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for allLIndex (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to P − 1 1(0, P), (1, P), (2, P), . . . (P − 1,P) P to 2P − 1 2 (0, 0), (1, 0),(2, 0), . . . (P − 1, 0) 2P to 3P − 1 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), . . . (P −1, 1) . . . . . . P² to P² + (0, P − 1), (1, P − 1 ), (2, P − 1), . . .P − 1 (P − 1, P − 1)

TABLE 21 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for P =L = 2Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0, 1 1 (0, 2),(1, 2) 2, 3 2 (0, 0), (1, 0) 4, 5 (0, 1), (1, 1)

TABLE 22 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for P =L = 3Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2 1 (0,3), (1, 3), (2, 3) 3 to 5 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0) 6 to 8 (0, 1), (1,1), (2, 1) 9 to 11 (0, 2), (1, 3), (2, 2)

TABLE 23 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for P =L = 4Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 3 1 (0,4), (1, 4), (2, 4), (3, 4) 4 to 7 2 (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), (3, 0) 8 to11 (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (3, 1) 12 to 15 (0, 2), (1, 2), (2, 2), (3,2) 16 to 19 (0, 3), (1, 3), (2, 3), (3, 3)

TABLE 24 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for allLIndex (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to P − 1 1(2L − P + 1, 0), . . . (2L, 0) P to 2 P − 1 2 (2L − P + 1, 2L − P + 1),. . . (2L, 2L − P + 1) . . . . . . P² to P² + P − 1 (2L − P + 1, 2L), .. . (2L, 2L)

TABLE 25 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for P =L = 2Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0, 1 1 (3, 0),(4, 0) 2, 3 2 (3, 3), (4, 3) 4, 5 (3, 4), (4, 4)

TABLE 26 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for P =L = 3Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 2), N_(0, 1)) 0 to 2 1 (4,0), (5, 0), (6, 0) 3 to 5 2 (4, 4), (5, 4), (6, 4) 6 to 8 (4, 5), (5,5), (6, 5) 9 to 11 (4, 6), (5, 6), (6, 6)

TABLE 27 Joint RI and (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) reporting table for P =L = 4Index (I) RI (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) or (N_(0, 1), N_(0, 2)) 0 to 3 1 (5,0), (6, 0), (7, 0), (8, 0) 4 to 7 2 (5, 5), (6, 5), (7, 5), (8, 5) 8 to11 (5, 6), (6, 6), (7, 6), (8, 6) 12 to 15 (5, 7), (6, 7), (7, 7), (8,7) 16 to 19 (5, 8), (6, 8), (7, 8), (8, 8)

In the embodiment illustrated in diagram 1150 which is applicable toType II with rank 1-2, as shown in FIG. 11G, two-part UCI multiplexingis used wherein the two parts are the same as in the embodimentillustrated in diagram 1140 except that RI is not reported explicitly inpart 1. RI is derived implicitly using reported (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)). Inparticular, the reported N_(0,2) value is used to derive RI valueaccording to at least one of the following options. In one option,assuming Alt E for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) reporting, if N_(0,2)=2L, thenRI=1, otherwise (N_(0,2) ∈{0,1, . . . , 2L−1},) RI=2. In another option,assuming Alt F for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) reporting, if N_(0,2)=0, thenRI=1, otherwise (N_(0,2) ∈{1,2, . . . , 2L}), RI=2. In another option,assuming Alt G for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) reporting, if N_(0,2)=P, thenRI=1, otherwise (N_(0,2) ∈{0,1, . . . , P−1}), RI=2. In another option,assuming Alt H for (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) reporting, if N_(0,2)=0, thenRI=1, otherwise (N_(0,2) ∈{2L−P+1, . . . , 2L}), RI=2.

In the embodiment illustrated in diagram 1151 which is applicable toType II with rank 1-2, as shown in FIG. 11G, three-part UCI multiplexingis used wherein the three parts are the same as in the embodimentillustrated in diagram 1141 (with four options in TABLE 3) except thatRI is not reported explicitly in part 1. RI is derived implicitly usingreported (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)). In particular, the reported N_(0,2) valueis used to derive RI value according to at least one of the options inthe embodiment illustrated in diagram 1150.

In another embodiment which is a variation of the embodiment illustratedin diagram 1140, instead of reporting (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) for number ofWB amplitudes that are zero or non-zero, an indicator is reported foreach WB amplitude using a bitmap B which is a concatenation of twobitmaps, i.e., B=B₀B₁ or B₁B₀, where each of bitmap B₀=b_(0,0)b_(0,1) .. . b_(0,2L-1) and bitmap B₁=b_(1,0)b_(1,1) . . . , b_(1,2L-1) is oflength 2L. If a bit b_(i,j)=0, then the corresponding WB amplitude iszero, and if a bit b_(i,j)=1, then the corresponding WB amplitude isnon-zero. Optionally, if a bit b_(i,j)=0, then the corresponding WBamplitude is non-zero, and if a bit b_(i,j)=1, then the corresponding WBamplitude is zero. An example of the bitmap for RI=1 and 2 isillustrated in TABLE 28. So, the number of bits to report RI=1 or 2 andWB amplitude bitmap B is 4L+1, which corresponds to 9, 13, and 17 bitsfor L=2, 3, and 4, respectively. The PMI payload to reporting componentsof the PMI (i₁ and i₂) in CSI part 2 is fixed once the CSI part 1 isdecoded since only the components of the PMI corresponding to non-zeroWB amplitudes need to be reported.

This embodiment is also applicable to the variations of embodimentsillustrated in diagrams 1140, 1141, 1150, and/or 1151, by replacing(N_(0,1),N_(0,2)) reporting with the WB amplitude bitmap B reporting.

Also, for a given beam, all four WB amplitude indicators (2polarizations and 2 layers) indicate zero WB amplitude, then thecorresponding beam is not reported using the PMI index i_(1,2).Optionally, L beams are reported regardless of the reported WB amplitudebitmap.

TABLE 28 RI and WB amplitude bitmap B reporting RI B₀ = b_(0, 0),b_(0, 1), . . . , b_(0, 2L−1) B₁ = b_(1, 0), b_(1, 1), . . . ,b_(1, 2L−1) 1 All possible bitmaps of length 00 . . . 0 2L exceptall-zero bitmap 00 . . . 0 2 All possible bitmaps of length All possiblebitmaps of length 2L except all-zero bitmap 2L except all-zero bitmap 00. . . 0 00 . . . 0

In another embodiment, (N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) is reported according to atleast one of the following options. In one option, N_(0,1) and N_(0,2),respectively are reported separately using the first PMI componentsi_(1,5,1) and i_(1,5,2), or i_(1,3,3) and i_(1,3,4), or i_(1,4,3) andi_(1,4,4). In another option, N_(0,1) and N_(0,2), respectively arereported jointly using the first PMI components i_(1,3,1) and i_(1,3,2).Note that in this case, i_(1,3,1) and i_(1,3,2) are reported in CSIpart 1. i_(1,3,1)=[i′_(1,3,1),N_(0,1)] andi_(1,3,2)=[i′_(1,3,2),N_(0,2)], where i′_(1,3,1) and i′_(1,3,2)correspond to i_(1,3,1) and i_(1,3,2), respectively defined earlier inthe present disclosure. In another option, N_(0,1) and N_(0,2),respectively are reported jointly using the first PMI componentsi_(1,41) and i_(1,4,2). Note that in this case, i_(1,4,1) and i_(1,4,2)are reported in CSI part 1. i_(1,4,1)=[i′_(1,4,1),N_(0,1)] andi_(1,4,2)=[i′_(1,4,2),N_(0,2)], where i′_(1,4,1) and i′_(1,4,2)correspond to i_(1,4,1) and i_(1,4,2), respectively defined earlier inthe present disclosure. In another option, N_(0,1) and N_(0,2),respectively are reported jointly using the first PMI componentsi_(1,3,1), i_(1,3,2), i_(1,41) and i_(1,4,2). Note that in this, case,i_(1,3,1), i_(1,3,2), i_(1,41) and i_(1,4,2) are reported in CSI part 1.

In another embodiment, the WB amplitude bitmap B is reported accordingto at least one of the options in the previous embodiment by replacing(N_(0,1), N_(0,2)) with the bitmap B, or (B₀, B₁).

For any of the above embodiments with at least two CSI-UCI codewordsegments or parts, when a UE is configured to report CSI for more thanone (M>1) DL component carriers (CCs) in case of carrier aggregation(CA), each of the codeword segments can be formed as follow. Forcodeword segment k, the bit sequences associated CSI-UCIs of segment kfor the M DL CCs can be concatenated (CC₀|CC₁| . . . |CC_(M-1)) into oneUCI codeword segment k to be encoded with a channel coding block. ForScheme 0 wherein only one codeword segment is used, the bit sequencesassociated CSI-UCIs for M different DL CCs can be concatenated (CC₀|CC₁|. . . |CC_(M-1)) into one UCI codeword to be encoded with a channelcoding block.

For any of the above embodiments, the channel coding block can includeother bit-level functions such as CRC insertion, interleaving, and/orrate matching. The multiplexing block can either include or be followedwith channel interleaver. In addition, some additional error protection(for example, for RI) can be introduced by, for instance, repetition orblock coding before multiplexing or channel coding.

For any of the above embodiments, if some additional coding gain (orerror protection) is needed for at least one CSI parameter, an extracoding (such as repetition, simplex, or block coding) can be appliedprior to multiplexing the CSI parameter with at least a second CSIparameter and/or joint encoding of the aforementioned CSI parameter withat least the second CSI parameter. For example, a repetition, simplex,or short block coding can be applied to RI prior to multiplexing andchannel coding. By doing so, the BLER requirement for RI can be setlower than at least another CSI parameter. In embodiments 900 or 901 ofFIG. 9A, a repetition, simplex, or short block coding can be applied toRI prior to multiplexing it with CQI. In embodiments 910 or 911 of FIG.9B, a repetition, simplex, or short block coding can be applied to RIprior to multiplexing it with CQI and PMI part I. In diagrams 1100 or1101 of FIG. 11A, a repetition, simplex, or short block coding can beapplied to RI prior to multiplexing it with CQI-1 and PMI part I. Indiagrams 1110 or 1111 of FIG. 11B, a repetition, simplex, or short blockcoding can be applied to RI prior to multiplexing it with CQI-1.

For any of the above embodiments, RI includes one report per CSIreporting band. Likewise, CRI (which can be accompanied by at least oneCSI-RSRP) including one report per CSI reporting band. CQI, depending onthe UE configuration, can include one report or N_(SB) reports per CSIreporting band where N_(SB) is the number of subbands within theconfigured CSI reporting band. Likewise, PMI, depending on the UEconfiguration, can include one report or N_(SB) reports per CSIreporting band where N_(SB) is the number of subbands within theconfigured CSI reporting band.

For any of the above embodiments wherein CSI includes multiple segmentsreported in one slot, whenever RI is reported in the first segment, CRIcan also be reported in the first segment just as RI.

For any of the above embodiments, the CSI-UCI content of A-CSI can betransmitted either within one subframe/slot or partitioned into multiplesubframes/slots. If CSI-UCI is transmitted with UL-SCH data, CSI-UCI canbe treated “similar to data” but more heavily coded, e.g. viaconfigurable MCS or beta offset similar to LTE. Here, “similar to data”includes the use of a same RE mapping scheme and/or a same layer mappingscheme (that is, the mapping of across layers, REs, and OFDM symbols) asdata. But channel coding for control information can be different fromdata (for example, data uses LDPC while control uses polar code ortail-biting convolutional code/TBCC).

Any of the above embodiments and sub-embodiments can be utilizedindependently or in combination with at least another one. If used withat least one other embodiment/sub-embodiment, a certain set ofconditions of use can be specified. For example, Scheme 0 can be used incombination with Scheme 2A or 2B. Scheme 0 can be used when only one PMIis reported for the entire CSI reporting band (CRB), i.e. “wideband” or“partial-band” PMI reporting (either for Type I CSI, Type II CSI, orboth types). Scheme 2A or 2B can be used for other cases, i.e. whensubband PMI is reported. In this case, one of the conditions entails PMIfrequency granularity.

For layer mapping, an example same scheme applied to data symbols andcontrol symbols can be described as follows.

When a UE is granted a 1-layer transmission on PUSCH, the stream ofmodulated symbols {d(i)} (indexed by i) is formed by seriallyconcatenating all the modulated symbols. When more than one code blocks(CBs) are associated with the codeword, symbols associated with multipleCBs are concatenated. This symbol stream {d(i)} serves as an input tolayer mapping. For frequency-first mapping, a stream of modulatedsymbols is first mapped across frequency sub-carriers (REs) within a setof allocated PRBs, then across OFDM symbols within a scheduling timeunit (slot or subframe). To illustrate, given a stream of modulatedsymbols {d(i)} mapped to a “set of available REs” indexed {(k,l)} (wherek and l denote frequency/sub-carrier and time/OFDM symbol indices,respectively), as index i is increased, frequency-first mapping mapsd(i) by first increasing index k from 0 to k_(MAX)−1 (for a fixed l),then increasing index l. That is, k=mod(i, k_(MAX)) and l=└i/k_(MAX)┘where k_(MAX) is the number of frequency sub-carriers (REs) in theallocated PRBs. The “set of available REs” is defined as those notoccupied by UL RSs or other UL signals/channels taking precedence overUL-SCH data and CSI-UCI.

When a UE is granted an L-layer transmission on PUSCH where L>1, thestream of modulated symbols {d(i)} (indexed by i) is also mapped acrossL layers in addition to REs (frequency/sub-carrier and time/OFDM symbolindices). The manner in which {d(i)} is mapped depends on whethervertical, horizontal, or diagonal spatial mapping is used, as well aswhether the spatial mapping (across layers) is performed in thegranularity of modulated symbol or CB. But for a given layer, themapping across REs is performed in the same manner as that for 1-layertransmission. For example, if symbol-level vertical spatial mapping isused, the stream of symbols is mapped first across L layers, then acrossfrequency sub-carriers (REs) within a set of allocated PRBs, then acrossOFDM symbols within a scheduling time unit (slot or subframe). DenotingM_(symb) ^(layer), M_(symb) ^(CW), x^((l)) (i), and d(i) as the numberof symbols per layer, the number of symbols in one CW, symbol stream forlayer l, and symbol stream for the CW, respectively, the CW-to-layermapping can be described as follows. Here, CB segmentation and/or ratematching ensure that M_(symb) ^(CW) is divisible by L.

$\begin{matrix}{{{x^{(l)}(i)} = {d\left( {{Li} + l} \right)}},\mspace{14mu}{i = 0},1,\ldots\mspace{14mu},{M_{symb}^{layer} - 1},{l = 0},1,\ldots\mspace{14mu},{{L - {1\mspace{14mu} M_{symb}^{layer}}} = {M_{symb}^{CW}/L}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right)\end{matrix}$

If CB-level vertical spatial mapping is used, given a stream ofmodulated symbols {d(i)} (indexed by i) formed by serially concatenatingall the modulated symbols from μL CBs (which is associated with thesingle CW), the total number of modulated symbols equals BμL=k_(MAX)l_(MAX)L where B is the number of modulated symbols per CB andk_(MAX)l_(MAX) the total number of REs within the entire set ofallocated PRBs across all the OFDM symbols within one scheduling timeunit (slot or subframe). Hence,

$B = {\frac{k_{MAX}l_{MAX}}{\mu}.}$All the CBs are of equal size and employ the same MCS. That is, {CB n,CB n+1, . . . , CB n+L−1} share the same CB size B for different valuesof n. Here, the modulated symbol d(i) is mapped to the stream ofmodulated symbols associated with layer l as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{x^{(l)}(i)} = {d\left( {i + {lB} + {\left( {L - 1} \right)B \times {\frac{i}{B}}}} \right)}},{i = 0},1,\ldots\mspace{14mu},{M_{symb}^{layer} - 1},{l = 0},1,\ldots\mspace{14mu},{{L - {1\mspace{14mu} M_{symb}^{layer}}} = {{M_{symb}^{CW}/L} = {B\;\mu}}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2} \right)\end{matrix}$

For all the above layer mapping schemes, the starting point for the REmapping ({(k,l)} where k and l denote frequency/sub-carrier andtime/OFDM symbol indices, respectively) can depend on various factorssuch as whether the CSI-UCI symbols are multiplexed with data symbols ornot, or whether some other signals (such as UL DMRS, UL SRS, HARQ-ACKsymbols) are present. Furthermore, if two or more codeword segments forCSI-UCI are used, the starting point for RE mapping associated withdifferent codeword segments can be different.

The following embodiments pertain to the multiplexing of CSI-UCImodulated symbols in the presence of UL-SCH data symbols.

When CSI-UCI is transmitted without UL-SCH data, it is treated “similarto data transmission” in the sense previously explained.

When CSI-UCI is transmitted with UL-SCH data (that is, UL grantincluding request for both data and CSI transmissions), after channelcoding and modulation mapping, the modulated symbols associated withCSI-UCI (UL control symbols) are multiplexed with modulated symbolsassociated with data (UL data symbols).

For the schemes with two segments (two parts), a gNB can first decodecodeword segment 1 (which includes RI) before the other segment(s). Forinstance, when RI is included in segment 1, once segment 1 issuccessfully decoded, the payload size of segment 2 (whose size isRI-dependent) is known based on the decoded RI value. To facilitatelower latency decoding (for both data and CSI-UCI), CSI-UCI segment 1can be placed as early as possible in time within the UL subframe/slotwhich includes CSI-UCI (hence frequency-first mapping in the first fewavailable OFDM symbols). The modulated symbols associated with codewordsegment 2, on the other hand, can be multiplexed with data symbols invarious manners. Some examples include distributed mapping and localizedmapping (in time and/or frequency).

FIG. 12 illustrates several examples of multiplexing scheme whereinCSI-UCI is transmitted together with UL-SCH data. Two-layer transmissionis requested with 2-PRB (one PRB includes 12 sub-carriers and one slot 7OFDM symbols) resource allocation. Symbol-level vertical layer mappingis assumed for illustrative purposes. UL DMRS is assumed to be locatedin the first OFDM symbol. In the first example multiplexing scheme 1200,segment 2 is mapped toward the end of the slot to allow the gNB somedecoding time for segment 1 before segment 2 can be decoded. In thesecond example multiplexing scheme 1210, segment 2 is mapped on the nextOFDM symbol used for segment 1. Alternatively, segment 2 can be mappedright (consecutively) after segment 1. In the third example multiplexingscheme 1220, segment 2 is mapped in a distributed manner across the slotand PRBs. Other mapping schemes (patterns) can be inferred from thedisclosed descriptions and examples in a straightforward manner by thoseskilled in the art.

In the examples illustrated in FIG. 12, segment 1 is mapped on thesecond OFDM symbol across a set of adjacent (contiguous) sub-carriers.Although such a localized mapping frequency domain allows a compactlocation of segment 1, it can lack frequency diversity. In a variationof the examples in FIG. 12, segment 1 is mapped in a distributed manneracross the allocated set of PRBs. For example, the resulting symbols ofsegment 1 can be distributed more or less evenly across all theallocated set of PRBs. FIG. 13 illustrates several examples of segment 1mapped on one OFDM symbols (in this illustration, in the second OFDMsymbol) in this manner. Segment 2 is not depicted in this illustration.Two-layer transmission is requested with 2-PRB (one PRB including 12sub-carriers and one slot 7 OFDM symbols) resource allocation.Symbol-level vertical layer mapping is assumed for illustrativepurposes. UL DMRS is assumed to be located in the first OFDM symbol andsegment 1 in the second OFDM symbol. In the example multiplexing scheme1300, segment 1 occupies half of the allocated PRBs and is distributedevenly across the 2 allocated PRBs. In the example multiplexing scheme1310, segment 1 occupies two third of the allocated PRBs and isdistributed evenly across the 2 allocated PRBs. The portion of theallocated PRBS used for segment 1 can depend on the CSI-UCI payload aswell as the MCS used for UCI (e.g. to meet the required BLER). Othermapping schemes (patterns) can be inferred from the discloseddescriptions and examples in a straightforward manner by those skilledin the art.

In the above examples, segment 1 is mapped on only one OFDM symbol and,furthermore, the earliest possible OFDM symbol (in this example, thesecond OFDM symbol since the first OFDM symbol is used for UL DMRS).When the payload of segment 1 CSI-UCI is large enough that more than oneOFDM symbol is needed, n>1 earliest OFDM symbols can be used. If thefirst OFDM symbol in the slot is used for UL DMRS, the n OFDM symbolsafter the first symbol are used for segment 1. Both the localized anddistributed mapping across sub-carriers within the allocated PRBs can beextended accordingly when n>1 OFDM symbols are used.

Each of the embodiments described for Component 4 applies (in general)for CSI reporting with reasonably large payload which involves at leastone CSI parameter with RI-dependent payload size—either periodic,semi-persistent, or aperiodic; either wideband/partial-band (one reportper a configured CSI reporting band) or subband (one report per subbandwithin a configured CSI reporting band). The associated CSI-UCI can betransmitted via PUSCH by allocating a small number of PRBs or a fractionof PRB (a set of sub-carriers within one PRB and/or a set of OFDMsymbols within one slot) of that allocated for UL-SCH data transmission(as indicated by resource allocation field in an UL-related DCI).Alternatively, the associated CSI-UCI can be transmitted via PUSCH bymapping it across using the same number of PRBs and/or OFDM symbols asthat allocated for UL-SCH data transmission (as indicated by resourceallocation field in an UL-related DCI)—the amount of time-frequencyresource used for CSI-UCI transmission depends on the payload size andmultiplexing scheme. As mentioned before, this can be done whetherCSI-UCI is multiplexed with UL-SCH data or not.

Several variations of the above scheme can be as follows.

In one variation embodiment, both UL data and CSI-UCI are transmittedwith a same number of layers (rank) wherein the number of layers isindicated in an associated UL-related DCI. The MCS used for CSI-UCItransmission is determined by the MCS assigned for UL data transmissionwith a certain offset (analogous to beta offset for LTE). This offsetcan be fixed in specification or can be configured either viahigher-layer signaling, MAC CE, or L1 DL control signaling. When thisoffset is signaled via L1 control signaling, this offset can be includedin the same UL-related DCI scheduling the UL data transmission. Whenthis offset is fixed in the specification or configured via higher-layersignaling or MAC CE, the value of the offset can be eitherrank-dependent or rank-independent. For example, the offset can belarger or smaller for higher rank values. In addition, a minimum (lowerbound) MCS for CSI-UCI can be defined to ensure that the MCS for CSI-UCItransmission does not fall below a certain value. Alternatively, insteadof a minimum (lower bound) MCS, the MCS for CSI-UCI can be lowered, whennecessary, using repetition coding.

In another variation embodiment, CSI-UCI can be transmitted with adifferent number of layers (rank) from UL data. For example, the numberof layers used for CSI-UCI transmission is less than or equal to thatused for UL data. In this case, both the number of layers and the MCSused for CSI-UCI transmission are determined by the number of layers andthe MCS used for UL data transmission as indicated in an associatedUL-related DCI, along with at least one offset value (analogous to betaoffset for LTE). Here, the number of layers and the MCS used for CSI-UCItransmission can be either jointly or separately determined. An exampleprocedure is as follows. For a given offset value, the MCS used forCSI-UCI transmission is first determined from the MCS used for UL datatransmission. If the lowest MCS is still insufficiently low for theoffset (e.g. not low enough to ensure that a required BLER target forCSI-UCI reception is attained), the rank for CSI-UCI transmission can belowered. The process of determining MCS is then repeated for the lowerrank value. Therefore, MCS and rank for CSI-UCI transmission are jointlydetermined based on the MCS and rank for UL data transmission as well asthe offset(s).

In another variation embodiment, CSI-UCI can be transmitted with rank >1only when the total payload for CSI-UCI is larger than X (where X can befixed in specification or configured via higher-layer signaling). WhenCSI-UCI is transmitted together with data, a condition which can also beused (either in conjunction with another condition or separately) iswhen the data is transmitted with rank >1. Otherwise, CSI-UCI istransmitted with rank-1. Alternatively, this payload-dependent criterioncan be linked (or implicitly used) with the channel coding scheme. Thatis, CSI-UCI can be transmitted with rank >1 only when channel codingscheme A is used (e.g. LDPC).

In another variation embodiment, when CSI-UCI is transmitted with rank-1(one layer), several alternatives are applicable. In a firstalternative, CSI-UCI symbols (after modulation mapping) can be repeatedacross all the layers used for UL data transmission. In a secondalternative, CSI-UCI symbols (after modulation mapping) can betransmitted across all the layers with specification-transparenttransmit diversity scheme. In a third alternative, CSI-UCI symbols(after modulation mapping) can be transmitted across all the layers withRE-level or PRB-level precoder cycling. In a fourth alternative, CSI-UCIsymbols (after modulation mapping) can be transmitted across all thelayers with an assigned rank-1 precoder (signaled to the UE via anUL-related UCI which includes the associated UL grant and CSI request).In a fifth alternative, CSI-UCI symbols (after modulation mapping) canbe transmitted across all the layers with a rank-1 precoder determinedby the UE.

Any of the above embodiments pertaining to aperiodic CSI (A-CSI)—such asthe multi-segment UCI/CSI—can also be used for semi-persistent CSI(SP-CSI).

Any of the above variation embodiments can be utilized independently orin combination with at least one other variation embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart for an example method 1400 wherein a UEreceives CSI configuration information and reports multi-segment CSIaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, themethod 1400 can be performed by the UE 116.

The method 1400 begins with the UE receiving and decoding CSIconfiguration information (step 1401). The UE then calculates a CSIaccording to the configuration information (step 1402) and transmits theCSI on an uplink (UL) channel (step 1403).

In this method, the CSI includes N>1 segments and is transmitted in oneslot, and a first segment includes at least a rank indicator (RI) and atleast one other CSI parameter. For example, N can be two where a firstsegment also includes a channel quality indicator (CQI) for a firstcodeword (CW). In another example, in addition to a CQI for a first CW,the first segment also includes two indicators that correspond to anumber of reported wideband amplitude coefficients for a first and asecond layer, respectively. This is prevalent for Type II CSI supportedin NR. For both of these examples, a second segment includes CSIparameters associated with precoding matrix indicator (PMI). If the UEis configured for receiving up to 8 layers, the second segment alsoincludes a CQI for a second CW when the reported RI in the first segmentis greater than four. For all these examples, the first segment alsoincludes CSI-reference-signal resource indicator (CRI).

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for an example method 1500 wherein a BStransmits CSI configuration information and receives multi-segment CSIreporting for a UE (labeled as UE-k) according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. For example, the method 1500 can be performed by theBS 102.

The method 1500 begins with the BS generating CSI configurationinformation for a UE (termed UE-k) (step 1501), followed by transmittingthe CSI configuration information to UE-k (step 1502). The BS thenreceives CSI reporting from UE-k (step 1503).

In this method, the CSI includes N>1 segments and is transmitted in oneslot, and a first segment includes at least a rank indicator (RI) and atleast one other CSI parameter. For example, N can be two where a firstsegment also includes a channel quality indicator (CQI) for a firstcodeword (CW). In another example, in addition to a CQI for a first CW,the first segment also includes two indicators that correspond to anumber of reported wideband amplitude coefficients for a first and asecond layer, respectively. This is prevalent for Type II CSI supportedin NR. For both of these examples, a second segment includes CSIparameters associated with precoding matrix indicator (PMI). If the UEis configured for receiving up to 8 layers, the second segment alsoincludes a CQI for a second CW when the reported RI in the first segmentis greater than four. For all these examples, the first segment alsoincludes CSI-reference-signal resource indicator (CRI).

Although FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate examples of methods for receivingconfiguration information and configuring a UE, respectively, variouschanges could be made to FIGS. 14 and 15. For example, while shown as aseries of steps, various steps in each figure could overlap, occur inparallel, occur in a different order, occur multiple times, or not beperformed in one or more embodiments.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exampleembodiment, various changes and modifications can be suggested by or toone skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosureencompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a transceiverconfigured to receive configuration information for channel stateinformation (CSI) reporting; and a processor operably connected to thetransceiver, the processor configured to decode the configurationinformation and calculate a CSI according to the configurationinformation, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmitthe calculated CSI on an uplink (UL) channel, wherein the CSI includes Nsegments and is transmitted in one slot, wherein N is two, wherein afirst of the two segments includes a rank indicator (RI) and a channelquality indicator (CQI) for a first codeword (CW), wherein, in case thatthe RI reported in the first segment is greater than four, a second ofthe two segments contains a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) and CQIrelating to a second CW, wherein, in case that the RI reported in thefirst segment is equal to or less than four, the second of the twosegments contains the PMI without the CQI relating to the second CW, andwherein the first segment and the second segment are separately encoded.2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the first segment further includes twoindicators that correspond to a number of reported wideband amplitudecoefficients for a first and a second layer, respectively.
 3. The UE ofclaim 1, wherein the PMI includes PMI part 1 and PMI part
 2. 4. The UEof claim 1, wherein the PMI and the CQI relating to the second CW in thesecond segment are jointly encoded in case that the RI reported in thefirst segment is greater than four.
 5. The UE of claim 1, wherein apayload of the second segment is identified based on a value reported inthe first segment.
 6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the RI and the CQI forthe first CW in the first segment are jointly encoded.
 7. The UE ofclaim 1, wherein the calculated CSI is transmitted on a physical sharedchannel (PUSCH).
 8. The UE of claim 1, wherein the first segment furtherincludes a CSI reference signal resource indicator (CRI).
 9. A basestation (BS), comprising: a processor configured to generateconfiguration information for channel state information (CSI) reporting;and a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiverconfigured to: transmit, to a user equipment (UE), the configurationinformation via a downlink (DL) channel, and receive, from the UE a CSIcalculated in accordance with the configuration information on an uplink(UL) channel, wherein the CSI includes separately encoded N segments,and is received in one slot, wherein N is two, wherein a first of thetwo segments includes a rank indicator (RI), and a channel qualityindicator (CQI) for a first codeword (CW), and wherein, in case that theRI reported in the first segment is greater than four, a second of thetwo segments contains a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) and CQIrelating to a second CW, and wherein, in case that the RI reported inthe first segment is equal to or less than four, the second of the twosegments contains the PMI without the CQI relating to the second CW. 10.The BS of claim 9, wherein the first segment further includes twoindicators that correspond to a number of reported wideband amplitudecoefficients for a first and a second layer, respectively.
 11. The BS ofclaim 9, wherein the PMI includes PMI part 1 and PMI part
 2. 12. The BSof claim 9, wherein the second segment includes jointly encoded the PMIand the CQI relating to the second CW in case that the RI reported inthe first segment is greater than four.
 13. The BS of claim 9, wherein apayload of the second segment is identified based on a value reported inthe first segment.
 14. The UE of claim 9, wherein the RI and the CQI forthe first CW in the first segment are jointly encoded.
 15. The UE ofclaim 9, wherein the calculated CSI is transmitted on a physical sharedchannel (PUSCH).
 16. A method for operating a user equipment (UE), themethod comprising: receiving and decoding configuration information forchannel state information (CSI) reporting; decoding the configurationinformation; calculating a CSI according to the configurationinformation; and transmitting the calculated CSI on an uplink (UL)channel, wherein the CSI includes N segments and is transmitted in oneslot, wherein N is two, wherein a first of the two segments includes arank indicator (RI) and a channel quality indicator (CQI) for a firstcodeword (CW), and wherein, in case that the RI reported in the firstsegment is greater than four, a second of the two segments contains aprecoding matrix indicator (PMI) and CQI relating to a second CW,wherein, in case that the RI reported in the first segment is equal toor less than four, the second of the two segments contains the PMIwithout the CQI relating to the second CW, and wherein the first segmentand the second segment are separately encoded.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the first segment further includes two indicators thatcorrespond to a number of reported wideband amplitude coefficients for afirst and a second layer, respectively.
 18. The method of claim 16,wherein the second of the two segments includes CSI parametersassociated with a precoding matrix indicator (PMI).
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the second segment further includes the CQI for asecond CW when the RI reported in the first segment is greater thanfour.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first segment furtherincludes a CSI reference signal resource indicator (CRI).